According to a brief update from AFM Records CIRCLE II CIRCLE, featuring ex-SAVATAGE frontman Zak Stevens, have started recording their fifth album. Entitled Consequence Of Power, it will be the band’s second concept record. The official release is planned for fall 2010. More details as we get them.

As previously reported, Steven will be a featured guest on Metal Messiah Radio on Thursday, March 11th as part of Dave Softee’s Metal Meltdown program. The show begins at 9:00pm EST, go to this location to tune in.

Circle II Circle recently posted the following press release:
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OBSCURA drummer Hannes Grossmann has launched his personal website HannesGrossmann.com, offering customized online-video drum lessons. These lessons and instructional videos will also be made available via his YouTube channel and can be downloaded to any IPod or IPhone.

Grossmann commented on the site: “I want to give some insights to my playing and show young metal and non-metal drummers new ways to increase their drumming skills and be able to practice efficiently. The practice methods I developed over the years allow me to learn anything that I want within a short time period. When I joined NECROPHAGIST in 2003 I managed to increase my single stroke hand speed from 200 bpm to 240 bpm in four months! No matter what you want to learn – may it be hand or foot technique, speed, odd time signatures, timing, warm-ups or even songs from the bands I played with – you’ll get the chance to learn it on my website!”

Obscura are currently on tour in the United States alongside THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER.

Bay Area thrash legends DEATH ANGEL have been holed up in their Oakland, California studio for the past few months writing songs for their next Nuclear Blast release, tentatively scheduled to drop in September.

Guitarist Rob Cavestany has issued the following studio update:
“After months of writing and pre-production in our Oakland rehearsal studio, I’m suddenly a temporary resident of Sanford, Florida! I have travelled across the country to begin the process of recording our new album at Audio Hammer Studios and tonight we kicked in the action. Monday was all about getting acquainted, listening to music, getting a vibe and discussing the game plan. Tonight we worked on tempos, arrangements, riffs and guitar harmonies… getting right down to the core of the songs. I laid down scratch guitar tracks for the first 4 songs and damn how they have blossomed from the original ideas! I’m really liking where we are going so far… just the scratch tracks sound sick! Jason (Suecof; TRIVIUM, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, ALL THAT REMAINS) and I seem to be off to a good start. The vibe is on and we are both night owls so we’re on the same wavelength… which is important if magic is to be weaved!

San Francisco’s D.R.I. have announced the following US dates for later this year:

September
9 – Tucson, AZ – The Rock
10 – Mesa, AZ – U.B.’s
11 – Las Vegas, NV – Cheyanne Saloon
12 – Sparks, NV – New Oasis
17 – Portland, OR – Satyricon
18 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon
19 – Bend, OR – Midtown Ballroom

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American doom supergroup SHRINEBUILDER - comprised of Scott Kelly (Neurosis), Al Cisneros (Om, Sleep), Scott “Wino” Weinrich” (Saint Vitus, The Obsessed, Spririt Caravan) and Dale Crover (Melvins, Altamont) - today embark on their new US tour, kicking it off at The Casbah in San Diego, California. The band will pound the West Coast all week alongside Neurot brethren A STORM OF LIGHT on all shows, and with special appearances by HARVESTMAN (Steve Von Till of Neurosis) on the three Bay Area shows.   Immediately following the West Coast shows, the band will head to New York City for a special show at New York University, and then head to Columbus, Ohio where they will appear as one of the headliners of the now sold-out Scion Rock Fest alongside D.R.I., Brutal Truth, Cannibal Corpse, Absu and tons of other high quality metal acts.

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