The Bay Area thrashers Exodus have unveiled their new album artwork. Collaborating with reknown artwork guru Par Olofsson for their new album titled Blood In,Blood Out. In typical Olofsson style the cover is excellently executed and will fit the album perfectly with the idea behind the cover being Olofsson’s idea, guitarist Gary Holt stated :

Earlier this week polish death metal titans finally unleashed one of their new songs from forthcoming album Blood Mantra and it is a return to old school Decapitated. Many people weren’t happy with 2011’s Carnival Is Forever but this new song, premiered on Dan P Carter’s Radio 1 Show has all the hallmarks that were in their classic Organic Hallucinosis with the new age sound of Decapitated. “The Blasphemous Psalm To The Dummy God Creation” is absolutely brilliant and has made the wait for Blood Mantra that much longer. Its also worth noting that new drummer, Michal Lysejko gives their previous Krimh a serious run for his money.

One of the most hotly anticipated releases in metal is, ironically not a metal album. With their new song “Eternal Rains” Opeth have gone full prog, opening with the sound of the now accustomed mellotron, we’re then shown a lot more distortion than we heard in first single “Cusp Of Eternity” this doesn’t last however. We’re moved slowly into the verse where pianos and clean guitars ring out and finally we hear some vocals followed by a solo and some prog trade offs. An interesting song to be released as a single, but then Opeth have never been one for the conventional.

Wovenwar have made their new effort available for streaming before its August 4th release date next week. One of the most intriguing and hotly anticipated albums of this month for sure. Although retaining the heaviness that As I Lay Dying members forged in their discography the new Oh Sleeper vocalist adds a new dimension to the band, that wouldn’t have been explored had circumstances not led to its formation. Whilst not only adding a new dimension, the band altogether sounds slicker, with more thoroughly thought out ideas for songs and in general has direction.

Southwest Terror Fest III, the festival full of deathy goodness has announced it’s full line-up and complete running order.

This may be a first in the metal world but Rob Zombie has announced that his next effort in film will in fact be crowdfunded. After having released the over hyped Lords Of Salem our man decided to go for the crowdfunding route for the new movie 31. As a stroke of genius by crowdfunding he has given fans the opportunity to get up close and personal. Which is more than can be said for any other film that has been in production. These all come in the form of perks as ever. Ranging from a laminate giving access to any Rob Zombie show anywhere for a lifetime, to memorabilia from past movies having your name in the credits and even being an extra on the film itself! It’s a great idea that will probably give new life in his film series. The film is currently in the pre production stages as Zombie wants to concentrate on finishing the touring cycle then put all his efforts into his new movie.