Defenders Of The Faith, le forum Metal

Texas thrashers WARBEAST will release their sophomore full-length album, "Destroy", on April 2 via Housecore Records. The CD was produced by former PANTERA frontman, and Housecore owner, Philip H. Anselmo, and engineered by Stephen "The Big Fella" Berrigan at Anselmo's Nodferatu's Lair studios in Louisiana in May and July 2012. The effort was mixed by Anselmo and Berrigan. The album artwork and concept were designed by "Carcass" John Fossum with graphic and technical adviser John Deleon.

A CD-release show for "Destroy" will take place at The Rail Club in Fort Worth, Texas on April 6. This is currently the first live date WARBEAST has planned for 2013 after the close of the band's current tour, "The Weed & Speed Tour: West Coast Throwdown In The Year Of XIII", with headliners DOWN. The tour ends today in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

In other news, bassist Dré Karst has announced his departure from WARBEAST because he is unable to keep up with the band's busy touring schedule due to his full-time job. WARBEAST vocalist Bruce Corbitt states: "We are saddened that Dré has to leave the band. But we will be the first to acknowledge that Dré did an amazing job while he was in WARBEAST. He only had two weeks to prepare to record our upcoming full-length album, 'Destroy'. He also kicked ass at all of the shows and on the three tours with DOWN. So please everyone… join us in giving Dré his props for what he accomplished in his time in WARBEAST. Thanks so much, Dré!!! We will miss ya, bro… Thanks for being part of our family."

Corbitt continues: "So, obviously, that means that WARBEAST is now on the hunt for our next bass player. Please only serious musicians contact us about this. Obviously, we need someone that can tour constantly and that has a schedule that will work with WARBEAST. So for those interested please send an email to brucecorbitt@yahoo.com."

WARBEAST recently released a split album with Anselmo, entitled "War Of The Gargantuas". The split, released via Housecore, includes two songs from each artist. This album serves as the first release of any solo work by Anselmo during the span of his nearly 30-year legacy. Also, the two WARBEAST tracks on the split feature former bassist Alan Bovee before his amicable departure from the band.

Texas-based thrashers WARBEAST have released a horror-flick inspired music video for the track "Blood Moon". The song comes off the band's new album, "Destroy", released last week via Housecore Records. The clip, which tells the terrifying story of Gnmange, a tormented werewolf, and his need to exist, was directed by Mike Holderbeast of Cement Level Studios NOLA, known for his recent work with DOWN on their music video for the track "Witchtripper". The video features the acting talents of WARBEAST guitarist Scott Shelby and slayed victims Amber Michelle and Sarah Vaz, and features special effects work by Molly Federline.

As the star of the video, Shelby was able to experience all of the video's special effects and behind-the-scenes tricks first-hand.

"First, Mike came to our rehearsal space at Zativa Studios in Texas," Scott explains. "There, we filmed the jamming parts of the video in front of black screens and green screens. Next came the werewolf part, which had me going to New Orleans to Mike's place. I followed his directing tips in order to become and transform into the Beast with professional makeup artist and lots of blood. We filmed in the French quarters and step by step did the transformation — ripping flesh, growing teeth, and turning into the Beast which had been caged and taunted by two beautiful women. The beast eventually slaughters both of them in this classic horror film metal video!"

He adds: "'Blood Moon' is a special song to me because I wrote it years ago. Bringing it back to life with WARBEAST is an honor and long overdue. Plus, Bruce put his horror movie lyrics to it, which are the icing on the cake. This is a great song and a dream come true for Bruce and I. Mike Holderbeast is a master at his art as you will see in this awesome video. Enjoy and slash and thrash!"

Casey Orr (RIGOR MORTIS, GWAR) will join WARBEAST as their fill-in bassist while on the road this spring with GWAR. The band's tour dates with GWAR and WILSON kick off in Tucson, Arizona on April 10. The 16-day run, dubbed the "Fate Or Chaos Tour", will continue through the month of April until it closes in Jacksonville, Florida on April 25.

States WARBEAST vocalist Bruce Corbitt: "Obviously, we are all psyched to have Casey on board for this upcoming tour with GWAR and WILSON. I've always respected Casey's professionalism, abilities and musicianship from our many years together in RIGOR MORTIS. This will be a natural and comfortable fit for WARBEAST. Plus he's still buds with all of the guys in GWAR, so this tour will be a blast… to say the least."

Adds Orr: "I am very excited to accept the challenge of playing bass for the mighty WARBEAST! I'm looking forward to crushing skulls with my brothers in the Beast, and I'm totally stoked to be bringing the thunder on the road this April, supporting my Scumdog family — GWAR. Texas thrash will destroy!"

"Destroy" was produced by former PANTERA frontman, and Housecore owner, Philip H. Anselmo, and engineered by Stephen "The Big Fella" Berrigan at Anselmo's Nodferatu's Lair studios in Louisiana in May and July 2012. The effort was mixed by Anselmo and Berrigan. The album artwork and concept were designed by "Carcass" John Fossum with graphic and technical adviser John Deleon.

WARBEAST recently released a split album with Anselmo, entitled "War Of The Gargantuas". The split, released via Housecore, includes two songs from each artist. This album serves as the first release of any solo work by Anselmo during the span of his nearly 30-year legacy. Also, the two WARBEAST tracks on the split feature former bassist Alan Bovee before his amicable departure from the band.

"Maze Of The Minotaur", a brand new song from Texas metal titans WARBEAST, can be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below. The track is taken from the band's new album, "Enter The Arena", which will be released on August 4 via Philip H. Anselmo's Housecore Records. Captured at Anselmo's Nodferatu's Lair, mixed by Mike Thompson at the Riff Factory and mastered by Lee Russell, the disc features newest WARBEAST recruits, guitarist Drew Shoup and bassist Lyric Ferchaud, and stands among the band's most potent, volatile, and unrepentantly powerful offering yet.

"We recorded 'Enter The Arena' exactly a decade after we formed WARBEAST," notes vocalist Bruce Corbitt. "The nucleus and founding members of this band [guitarist Scott Shelby, drummer Joey Gonzalez and Corbitt] provided the essential veteran leadership that was vital for us to reach our goal of creating our magnum opus. The three of us also contributed our unique individual styles to guarantee that we still sound like WARBEAST. But with the addition of our two newest members — guitarist Drew Shoup and bassist Lyric Ferchaud — who I call the 'Youngbloods,' it was like adding a breath-of-fresh-air to our chemistry. We definitely sound like a well-oiled-machine on this album. So get prepared for the upcoming onslaught of pure, fresh, and quintessential Texas thrash!"

"'Enter The Arena' is WARBEAST at its finest in performance, writing and tone quality," adds Shelby. "I'm confident that it will please any rivethead out there! I believe it's mine and our best work to date."

The release of WARBEAST's "Enter The Arena" follows Corbitt's recent and tragic announcement that he's been diagnosed with esophageal cancer — a treatable though rarely curable disease — facing the likelihood that he will never be able to sing again.

In a recent Facebook message to fans, Corbitt revealed: "After much discussion with the doctors and specialist, they've told me there's no chance within any reasonable time that I'll ever be able to perform again. So it breaks my heart at this time that I'm forced to announce my retirement from singing.

"I'm sorry to all of my bandmates for letting them down. I'm devastated with all of this hitting me so fast. I'm still in shock.

"Thanks for all of the great support all these years," he continues. "You're the best fans and I love all of you! We at least have a great WARBEAST album and music video coming soon.

"I can't even begin to explain my feelings. You guys have given me the strength I need to even prepare for this fight. Honestly, I was close to losing hope that there was any good to come out of this. Of course, I'm scared for my life like any normal human being would be. Those moments when I can get on Facebook and scroll through all of your messages, the emotion takes over. I cry, I get stronger, I also realize what all of you mean to me. I do believe in the power prayer and positive vibes. And I have all of you to thank for that."

Corbitt, who recently began an intensive schedule of radiation treatments, played his final show on Saturday, May 27 at the Rail Club in Fort Worth, Texas.

Additionally, the band's previously scheduled CD-release party will take place on Friday, July 14 at The Rail Club in Ft. Worth, Texas. Vocals will be handled by Anselmo, Edwin Neal ("Texas Chain Saw Massacre"), and Wayne Abney of HAMMER WITCH.

A special fund to help with the Corbitt family's escalating medical expenses has been set up. To donate, go to this location.

"Enter The Arena" track listing:

01. Centuries Of Poisoned Soil
02. Punishment For Gluttony
03. Orchestration Of Violence
04. Maze Of The Minotaur
05. Hitchhiker
06. Chemicals Consuming
07. Enter The Arena
08. The Scalping
09. Conjuration With The Devil
10. Ancient Hate

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