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"Heavy Metal" and "Fun Time" are two phrases that don’t normally go together for the majority of the population.  Fortunately now you can inflict your musical tastes on others with the "Heavy Metal Fun Time Activity Book," a sort of children’s book parody with a metal theme.  It features numerous different types of puzzles containing material related to bands like Venom, Sepultura, Black Sabbath, Slayer, Pantera, Mayhem, and several others.  Most of the puzzles are pointlessly easy, but some of the scrambles in particular are actually somewhat tough (see this article in Seattle’s The Stranger for an example).

The book is available from Amazon and from local bookstores everywhere.  Definitely a great way to get out of having to buy presents for your friends’ kids ever again. 

Dark ambient/industrial artist Hoarfrost has their entire discography available for download from their official website.  This includes their album "Dungeon, a split with Mrok, and two compilations, "Where are you Europe?" and "See you in Sanitarium." 

Two metal documentaries I posted about a few months ago, "Until The Light Takes Us" and "Global Metal," are both nearing release.  A couple more documentaries are also in the works: "Light In Darkness - Nemesis Divina" about the Norwegian Christian black metal scene, and "Working Class Rock Star," which follows the careers of 3 metal bands. 

"Until The Light Takes Us," a feature-length documentary chronicling the Norwegian black metal scene, has completed filming and is now undergoing post-production.  The release date is not yet finalized, but the plan is to release the film at a handful of film festivals before a wider theatrical release later this year, according to director/producer Audrey Ewell.  Check the film’s MySpace page for film clips and the latest updates.

The situation is similar for "Global Metal," a documentary by Sam Dunn and Scott McFadyen about metal music’s impact across the world.  A theatrical release is planned for this Spring, and the film has already screened at several film festivals internationally.  A trailer is available at the Global Metal website, and the latest release information is available at Global Metal’s MySpace page. 

A new documentary titled "Light In Darkness - Nemesis Divina" focuses on the seemingly paradoxical Christian black metal scene, and particularly the Norwegian bands Crimson Moonlight, Admonish, and Frosthardr.  The film is produced by Stefan Rydehed, who also recently completed work on a documentary titled "Pure Fucking Mayhem" about black metal band Mayhem.  A trailer for "Light In Darkness - Nemesis Divina" is now available on YouTube, as are clips from "Pure Fucking Mayhem."

Finally, "Working Class Rock Star" follows the lives and careers of extreme acts Tub Ring, Bloodshoteye and 3 Mile Scream, offering an inside look at what it takes to succeed in the world of underground music.  The film’s runs 98 minutes and features interviews with members of several other underground acts, including Unearth, Lamb Of God, Dog Fashion Disco, Finntroll, Kataklysm, The Haunted, Himsa, Arch Enemy, Strapping Young Lad, and Bleeding Through.  The film will be premiering later this Spring in Toronto, ON, with a wider release to hopefully follow.  Check the Working Class Rock Star website for a trailer and release date info.

That’s what Seattle’s The Stranger would have you believe.  And hey, double-neck bass/guitar players are are pretty damn cool.  Boris’s forthcoming album "Smile", the follow up to 2006’s well-received "Pink," features more of the Japanese trio’s unique stoner rock wizardry.

Boris fans have several interesting options for preordering the album.  Preordering the album at Insound will get you an exclusive reprint of the "Statement" 7", while supplies last.  Amazon.com is offering the album with an exclusive ‘download card’ which can be redeemed for select mp3 tracks from several other Boris releases.  And of course, you can order it through Southern Lord along with an "Smile" t-shirt or sweatshirt.

There’s also a video for the song ‘Statement’ from "Smile" up on YouTube, and you can stream the song on Boris’s MySpace page.  The album will be released April 29th on Southern Lord Records.

From MetalKult.com: GuitarWorld’s tab site now features several official tabs from well-known extreme metal acts.  The tabs featured include Burzum’s ‘Det Som En Gang Var,’ Immortal’s ‘Sons Of Northern Darkness,’ Mayhem’s ‘Deathcrush,’ and three songs by Death.  Head to tabs.guitarworld.com to view the tabs.

If the June release date for Opeth’s "Watershed" seems a little far away, eager fans can get a taste of the album on April 22nd, when the "Porcelain Heart" single will be released.  ‘Porcelain Heart will be the 5th song on the new album, and clocks in at around 8 minutes.  It will be available for download from Amazon MP3 as well as in stores. 

Opeth has also recently completed work on a music video to go with the song.  The video was filmed in a Swedish castle and will have a very dark, gothic look and feel to it.  Several screenshots are currently posted at Opeth.com.

Decrepit Birth’s newest album "Diminishing Between Worlds" was a whirlwind of progressive death metal technicality.  Hell, these guys play Cynic riffs while warming up for shows.  So how can you pass up guitar or drum lessons from Decrepit Birth drummer and Odious Mortem drummer/guitarist K.C. Howard? 

Howard teaches out of Santa Cruz, CA, and besides being a sick technical death metal drummer, he has pretty impressive credentials - he’s been teaching music professionally for over 6 years, has a music degree from San Jose State, and charges a pretty reasonable price for lessons.  You can contact him through the Community Music School of Santa Cruz. 

Brooklyn experimental metalcore band Candiria is in sort of a ‘zombie’ state nowadays - they haven’t really broken up, but they aren’t really an active band either, being unable to tour because of drummer Kenneth Schalk’s departure.  Then there’s the whole fiasco of the band being unable to release their latest completed album, "Kiss The Lie," because the record label feels a release without a touring band would be too risky. 

So fans are left waiting to see if Candiria’s latest album will ever be released.  Fortunately this year, the band is doing its best to keep us busy while we wait.  They’ve announced plans to release a remix album later this year, along with a rarities album containing songs from the band members’ personal collections and side projects.  The remix album has an impressive list of contributors so far: The Dillinger Escape Plan, Dalek, Indecision, Kayo Dot, Navicon Torture Technologies, Kevin Hufnagel of Dysrhythmia, and several others.

Several members of the band are also active in various side projects that are worth checking out.  As I’ve mentioned before, guitarist John LaMacchia’s band Spylacopa is planning to release its debut EP later this year.  Vocalist Carley Coma and Schalk have also formed an alternative rock band called Hope Kills Fear, and have posted a few songs on the Hope Kills Fear MySpace page.

Fans of morbid, twisted art should definitely make it a point to visit New York’s Last Rites Gallery, which is having its grand opening exhibition this month.  The gallery is owned by world-famous tattoo artist Paul Booth, who is known for his work with several celebrities and bands, including Slayer, Pantera, and Mudvayne.   The inaugural exhibition includes a few paintings by Booth, along with works by Stephen Kasner, H.R. Giger and several other talented artists.

Booth and gallery director Genevive Zacconi state the following about the intent of the gallery:

"We feel that the most powerful art is that which touches the viewer emotionally. By hitting a nerve, this work will often cause one to look inward and explore their own feelings and intense thoughts. Facing one’s fears, negating puritanical taboos, and tapping into often repressed emotions is truly empowering and this is where dark art finds its strength. Last Rites Gallery offers a place to recognise this work as it relates to the individual."

Judging by the samples posted on the site, visitors to the gallery will have a chance to see (and possibly purchase) some truly disturbing and bizarre works of art.   It’s pleasing that such a gallery exists, and it should be very interesting to see what future exhibits will contain.