Beyond The Grave Festival is Back with Benediction, Kraanium, and More


November 24th and 25th two iconic London venues will play host to Beyond The Grave IV. Camden’s Black Heart and Underworld will welcome an array of extreme metal talent, including headliners Kraanium and Benediction. Get the full lineup and more information below.

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Rockharz Announces Bruce Dickenson’s Only German Festival Appearance of 2024


German festival, Rockharz, have announced that they have booked Iron Maiden frontman, Bruce Dickenson, for their 2024 edition. He will celebrate his recently announced album The Mandrake Project exclusively under the Devil’s Wall (a famous landmark of the Harz region) as part of the only festival show of the year in Germany. Keep reading for more new acts and details.

 

Remaining tickets will go on sale, 5pm CEST, today (October 20th 2023) here.

 

Organizer Thorsten “Buddy” Kohlrausch is proud and happy about this very special announcement:

For many years we have been hoping to be able to present such a legendary artist as Bruce Dickinson on the Rockharz stages one day. Now this dream comes true! And not only that! We will be the only festival in Germany where Bruce will perform with The Mandrake Project. Thanks to the universe for this unique opportunity and this accolade for our festival!

 

The 30 years anniversary edition of Rockharz in July 2023, celebrated by fans and press, was a complete success. While the event was still in full swing, two headliners – Hammerfall and Kreator – were already confirmed in addition to the first strong dozen of acts for the 31st edition of the friendly open air festival from July 03 to 06, 2024, at the Ballenstedt airfield in the Harz Mountains. The fans reacted promptly: after less than six weeks, Rockharz 2024 officially announced “sold out” in mid-August. So much trust is being rewarded, for instance with the next big highlight for all the lucky ones who secured a ticket right away – Bruce Dickinson!

 

But it keeps getting better: at the same time, four more highlights have been confirmed for next year with Amaranthe, Callejon, Benediction and Kanonenfieber – and that’s not all; more bands, including some main acts, will be announced soon.

 

Rockharz lineup:

Bruce Dickinson (“The Mandrake Project” exclusive festival show Germany 2024), Amaranthe, Amorphis, Benediction, Callejon, D’artagnan, Dirkschneider, Hammerfall, Hatebreed, Heldmaschine, Kanonenfieber, Kreator, Lordi, Oomph!, Orden Ogan, Parasite Inc., Rage, Schandmaul, Soilwork, The Halo Effect, Unearth, Unleash The Archers, and many more.

 


ALBUM REVIEW: Memoriam – Rise To Power


For my money, there is no better Death Metal vocalist than Karl Willetts. There is just something about it that just feels like “Classic Death Metal”. His delivery is always on point with the perfect blend of raw power and intensity. His time and contribution to the one and only Bolt Thrower were nothing short of incredible. When the band broke up in 2015, Willets along with Benediction bassist Frank Healy quickly formed Memoriam the following year.

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GUEST POST: Gate Master’s Top 10 Albums of the Year 2020


Ghost Cult is kicking off our “End of Year Guest Post Extravaganza” with a slew of posts from bands, industry, PR types, and more! We’ll be sharing lists, memories, and other shenanigans from our favorite bands, partners, music industry peers, and other folks we respect across the globe. Dungeon Synth / Black Metal artist Gate Master shares his top 10 releases of 2020.

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Baest Announce New Album – “Necro Sapiens”


Danish death metal band Baest has announced their third full-length album Necro Sapiens out early 2021 via Century Media. More details about the release are coming soon. Formed in 2015, they signed to Century Media in 2018 and have spent the past few years releasing new music and touring with bands like Aborted and Entombed A.D. The band has won a total of three Danish GAFFA awards. Now, Baest is happy to announce their new album and a massive European tour in support of the forthcoming release, with dates opening for Benediction and major festivals, such as Roskilde, in their homeland.

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Benediction Are Rejoined by Vocalist Dave Ingram!


In some surprising news, Birmingham, U.K.-based extreme metallers Benediction has been rejoined by vocalist Dave Ingram (formerly of Bolt Thrower)! This news comes two months after the departure of the band’s previous singer, Dave Hunt. Hunt’s schedule had become increasingly congested with his commitments to both Benediction and Anaal Nathrakh, as well as his pursuit of his Ph.D. Therefore, Dave decided to vacate the role in the band. Dave Ingram commented.Continue reading


Memoriam – Requiem for Mankind


Memoriam Requiem for Mankind (Nuclear Blast) is Memoriam’s third album in as many years. The first album For the Fallen was great if a bit slow, punchy drums, thick guitar tones wrapped up with some nice production. The follow-up to The Silent Vigil was personally somewhat disappointing, a lot faster and more aggressive songwriting, which is always welcome, but it failed to capitalise on the excellent ideas with a quite thin production. Continue reading


REVIEW: Maryland Deathfest 2019


Maryland Deathfest held their annual festival in the venerable city of Baltimore a few weeks back. The four-day is one of the best-run independent underground metal festivals in the world. As usual Ghost Cult was on hand for the festivities, with Hillarie Jason bringing you her spectacular eye on bands through photos. Continue reading


Dismember, Benediction, Martyrdöd, Nuclear Assault, Rotten Sound, General Surgery And More Booked For Scandinavia Deathfest 2019


From the team that brought you Maryland Deathfest, Quebec Deathfest, California Deathfest and, we now have a Scandinavia Deathfest! It makes almost too much sense, as the region has been the birthplace of some of the greatest bands and albums of the metal genre. Right off the bat, headlining the festival are the reunited original-LAEFS-lineup of Dismember are making an exclusive European appearance. Other bands confirmed are Benediction, Birdflesh, Centinex, Death Toll 80k, Demilich, Demonical, Entrails, General Surgery, Interment, Iron Lamb, Martyrdöd, Massgrav, Nuclear Assault, Purtenance, Putrid Vision, Rippikoulu, Rotten Sound, Sarcasm, Soils of Fate, Sorcery, Toxaemia, Unanimated, Undergang, and Wombbath. Taking over Stockholm on October 11-12 at Kraken Sthlm and Slaktkyrkan. , 2019, the ticket information can be found below. Weekend passes go on sale today!

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Eindhoven Metal Meeting 2018 Live At Effenaar – Part II


Returning to the Effenaar venue on day two of Eindhoven Metal Meeting, logistical issues with trains sadly meant I missed the opener on the main stage, Izegrim. As I arrived I decided to do my best to at least catch Dervaza, but it quickly becomes apparent today is the “meat” of the fest for most people, and somehow it is even busier than the day before. Watching the bodies trying to squeeze into the small room, a line forming of metalheads craning their necks to see the band, I’m left to strike pretty much everything I wanted to cover in the small room off my itinerary today.

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