It’s our overdue post that wraps and sums up 2008 with a few quick images and a series of numbered lists. To see who the likes of CATTLE DECAPITATION, CHIMAIRA, GOATWHORE, THE RED CHORD, SHADOWS FALL, and more put down as their Top 5 Albums of 2008, along with your vote for Album of the Year..and the staff picks that nobody cares about, click forth.

We thank you for your continued viewership and negative comments. Here’s to 2009.

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Reunited death/thrash legends GOREAPHOBIA have just completed the recording of Mortal Repulsion, their debut album for Ibex Moon Records, and have sent it for mastering. The band has also re-recorded some old classics for inclusion as bonus tracks. The new album features guitarist Alex Bouks, bassist/vocalist Chris Gamble, guitarist John McEntee (Incantation), and drummer Jim Roe (ex-Incantation).

Says Bouks about the album, “A lot of people had been asking when the record will be done for a long time, but we needed to do things right and not rush the album. This is the first time I have ever worked with a group of musicians I respect and that have worked together as a band. Everyone has been involved with the writing process. The only way I can describe Mortal Repulsion is ‘extremely dark, atmospheric, aggressive, and heavy.’ I am very happy about what we have created together. This is the record we were always meant to make - pure death metal in its darkest form. We look forward to playing live for all the fans in the next coming months.”

Track listing for the album is as follows:

1. Ordeal of the Abyss
2. Amulet of Damnation
3. Negative Screams
4. Grave Plagued Planet
5. Primal Nothingness
6. End
7. Despised and Ruined
8. Black Ash Eyes
9. A Grievous Curse
10. Ascending into Vices
11. The Inevitable Punishment
12. Mortal Repulsion

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German folk metallers SUBWAY TO SALLY just announced the tracklisting for their upcoming album Kreuzfeuer:

1. Aufstieg
2. Judaskuss
3. Besser Du Rennst
4. SoFfern, So Nah
5. Die Jagd
6. Einsam
7. Komm in Meinen Schlaf
8. Angelus
9. Krähenkönig
10. Niemals
11. Versteckt
12. Vater

Kreuzfeuer marks the tenth studio effort of the band and will be released on April 3, 2009 via Nuclear Blast.

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MANTIC RITUAL, formerly known as MELTDOWN, just revealed the cover artwork for their long awaited debut album Executioner. Due to their name changing process some months ago, the band also revealed their new logo. All of the above, plus two songs off the album (”One By One”, “Panic”) can be streamed exclusively at the bands MySpace.

Look for MANTIC RITUAL on tour with ROTTING CHRIST starting January 6-29, before they hit the road with DESTRUCTION and KRISIUN all spring long.

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Opting not to be called LIZZARD OF OZ or REO MEATLIZARD, Texas based LIZARD SKYNARD have formed.

The band features Mossy Vaughn of THE HEAVILS and his cousin Johnny Baker of WACO JESUS, and is fronted by Jagermeister’s famed The Lizardman. Music and touring are expected to kick off this year. MySpace is available.

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The first bands have been announced for the 5th annual Los Angeles Murderfest, which will take place on May 9th and 10th at the Knitting Factory in Hollywood, CA:

GENERAL SURGERY
COFFINS
STORMCROW
LACK OF INTEREST

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Jack Frost of SEVEN WITCHES and SAVATAGE will contribute a guest solo to the upcoming SINGLE BULLET THEORY album Divine Ways Of Chaos.

SINGLE BULLET THEORY will return to the studio, starting in February. The band, who is fronted by former PISSING RAZORS guitarist Matt DiFabio, will start tracking the drums in Chattanooga, with the rest of the disc set to be recorded at Signal Sound Studios in Quakertown, PA with Pete Davis and will be produced by DiFabio and mixed by Carlos Alverez at Dirty Viking Studios.

Lineup will include:

• Guitars - Dan Loughry (Polterchrist, Insatanity)
• Drums - Darren Patrick
• Bassist - Bill Mez
• Vocals/Guitars - Matt DiFabio

Song titles for the disc include:

1. Hero In The Heartland
2. Leviathan Smiles
3. Your God Should Ready For Blood
4. City For Sale
5. Diesel And Dust
6. The Shifter
7. Heretic
8. The Divine Ways Of Chaos
9. Deeper Shade Of Sorrow
10. A Critic, A Cynic, A Saint

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Drummer Charlie Zeleny has parted ways with band BEHOLD THE ARCTOPUS. In a statement from his website, Charlie says:

“Its been 5+ years of crazy music, amazing fans and good times but its definitely time for us to part ways. These days I’ve been really into developing my career as a Session Drummer live and in the studio and as a Drum Solo Artist. I’m also very excited to be working on some new projects with Jordan Rudess from Dream Theater and Terry Bozzio for the Drum Channel. I am really excited to focus more on my own Online Drum Tracking business for artists all around the world which has already included Rudess, Blotted Science and Suspyre too. I wish the band the best of luck continuing on in the future without me and look forward to reconnecting with Arctopus fans on tour with other artists and bands soon, so stay tuned!”

Drummer Charlie Z has been on all of BEHOLD THE ARCTOPUS‘ previous releases up through the Skullgrid album and is also the drummer on the critically acclaimed 2007 release by Blotted Science entitled The Machinations of Demetia. He has also been a session drummer for Jordan Rudess, The Great Kat, Kayodot and on many Pop, Rock and Jazz sessions on tour and in NYC.

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(HED)P.E. have made their video for the track “Renegade” available online. The video was shot in Los Angeles, CA with directors Philip Carrier and Chad Archibald (Arise and Ruin) of Black Fawn Films.

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The famed trade show, NAMM, will be taking place this January 15-18. For those attending, the Samson booth has unveiled its predominantly metal lineup for the three days:

Thursday, January 15h:

Performances:

• Stu Hamm (Joe Satriani) 11:00am - 11:30am - Hartke HyDrive demo
• Kiko Loureiro (Angra / Solo) 11:00am - 11:30am - Zoom G1K signature pedal demo
• JD DeServio (Black Label Society / Cycle of Pain) 1:00pm - 1:30pm - Hartke HyDrive demo
• Jason Hook (Alice Cooper) 2:00pm - 2:30pm - Zoom effects performance
• Victor Wooten (Béla Fleck & the Flecktones / Solo) 3:30pm - 4:00pm - Hartke HyDrive demo

Friday, January 16th:

Signings:

12:00pm - 1:00pm

• Mike Stone - Queensÿyche / Speed X
• Eddie Jackson - Queensrÿche
• Kiko Loureiro - Angra / Solo
• Stu Hamm - Joe Satriani
• Richie Kotzen - Solo
• Victor Wooten - Béla Fleck & the Flecktones / Solo
• Jason Hook - Alice Cooper

2:00pm - 3:30pm

• Herman Li - Dragonforce
• Sam Totman - Dragonforce
• Frank Bello - Anthrax
• Matt Bachand - Shadows Fall
• Brian Fair - Shadows Fall
• John 5 - Rob Zombie / Solo
• JD DeServio - Black Label Society / Cycle of Pain

4:00pm - 5:30pm

• Charlie Benante - Anthrax
• John Tempesta - The Cult
• Jason Bittner - Shadows Fall
• Barry Kerch - Shinedown
• Carmine Appice
• Peter Erskine

Performances:

• Stu Hamm (Joe Satriani) 10:30am - 11:00am - Hartke HyDrive demo
• Kiko Loureiro (Angra / Solo) 11:00am - 11:30am - Zoom G1K signature pedal demo
• Victor Wooten (Béla Fleck & the Flecktones / Solo) 11:30am - 12:00pm - Hartke HyDrive demo
• Mike Herrera (MXPX / Tumbledown) 1:15pm - 1:45pm - Acoustic performance
• JD DeServio (Black Label Society / Cycle of Pain) 3:30pm - 4:00pm - Hartke HyDrive demo

Saturday, January 17th

Signings:

12:00pm - 1:00pm

• Stu Hamm - Joe Satriani
• Matt Bachand - Shadows Fall
• Brian Fair - Shadows Fall
• Jason Bittner - Shadows Fall
• Barry Kerch - Shinedown
• Willie Adler - Lamb of God
• Nick Catanese - Black Label Society / Speed X

1:30pm - 3:00pm

• George Lynch - Lynch Mob
• John 5 - Rob Zombie / Solo
• Michael Amott - Arch Enemy / Carcass
• Scott Ian - Anthrax
• Charlie Benante - Anthrax
• Frank Bello - Anthrax
• Rob Caggiano - Anthrax

3:30pm - 4:40pm

• Mike Stone - Queensrÿche / Speed X
• Eddie Jackson - Queensrÿche
• Kiko Loureiro - Angra / Solo
• Richie Kotzen - Solo
• JD DeServio - Black Label Society / Cycle of Pain
• Victor Wooten - Béla Fleck & the Flecktones / Solo

Performances:

• Stu Hamm (Joe Satriani) 11:00am - 11:30am - Hartke HyDrive demo
• Victor Wooten (Béla Fleck & the Flecktones / Solo) 11:30am - 12:00pm - Hartke HyDrive demo
• George Lynch (Lynch Mob) 12:45pm - 1:15pm - Zoom G2G “Mr. Scary” signature pedal demo
• Mike Stone (Queensryche / Speed X) 4:40pm - 5:00pm - Zoom effects performance

Sunday, January 18th

Signings:

12:00pm - 1:30pm

• Mike Stone - Queensrÿche / Speed X
• Eddie Jackson - Queensrÿche
• Stu Hamm - Joe Satriani
• JD DeServio - Black Label Society / Cycle of Pain
• Willie Adler - Lamb of God
• Victor Wooten - Béla Fleck & the Flecktones / Solo
• Rob Caggiano - Anthrax

Performances:

• Stu Hamm (Joe Satriani) 11:00am - 11:30am - Hartke HyDrive demo
• Victor Wooten (Béla Fleck & the Flecktones / Solo) 11:30am - 12:00pm - Hartke HyDrive demo

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It looks like Candlelight Records will be packaging a few of their artists together for a summer tour.

Simply dubbed The Candlelight Records 3 Tour, it will feature ABSU, DESTROYER 666, AVERSE SEFIRA, SOTHIS, and other ‘guests’ - presumably local acts. The first date we have is:

June 10 - Seattle, WA @ El Corazon

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LED ZEPPELIN frontman Robert Plant has led the charge for rock and roll in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List by being awarded a CBE as a singer/songwriter for his “contribution to music”. He joins a slew of sports stars, including Chris Hoy, Lewis Hamilton, and Rebecca Adlington, and 965 other people who will all be honored by HRM. Full list can be found here.

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The USC Trojan Marching Band will perform AVENGED SEVENFOLD’s ‘hit single’ “Almost Easy” during the Rose Bowl’s halftime show on January 1, 2009. The broadcast begins at 1:30 p.m., with halftime starting at approximately 3:40 p.m. All times are PST.

A bootleg video of it being played can be seen below. Now, the Marching Band’s performance of “Almost Easy” at the Rose Bowl will likely make it onto national television as ABC guarantees a three-minute portion of halftime be shown live.

“Almost Easy” is the first single from AVENGED SEVENFOLD’s current self-titled gold album.

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British youngsters ARCHITECTS have got their Adam Powell video for “Early Grave” up and running. It comes off their Century Media effort Hollow Crown:

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Swedish Doomsters CANDLEMASS have loaded up several brand new snippets from the following songs:

1. Hammer of Doom
2. If I Ever Die
3. Demon of the Deep
4. My Funeral Dreams

The Leif Edling specials can be heard here.

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WARBRINGER have spent the last two months at home working on new material that will comprise their second album. The five-piece are now prepared to enter the studio in January to record the follow-up to War Without End.

In mid-January WARBRINGER will play four shows in California previewing new material, including a show in Anaheim during this year’s NAMM show, before entering Sharkbite Studios (Machine Head, High On Fire) in Oakland on January 19 with EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt producing. The album will be mixed by Zack Ohren (All Shall Perish, Light This City, Braindrill) at Castle Ultimate.

Upon completion they will immediately hit the road beginning February 10 alongside SOILWORK, DARKANE, and SWALLOW THE SUN through the end of March

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