MetalSucks

In July we reported that the shuttered Metal Maniacs magazine would soon to be relaunching as a web-only publication, and today we’re pleased to announce that the brand new MetalManiacs.com is now live.

Resurrected by the owner of Metalhit.com, the new Metal Maniacs features regularly updated content and features from the latest in underground metal. The site boasts an exhaustive Mp3 store featuring more than 13,000 songs available for preview and purchase as well as a new forum, monthly contests, a weekly “deadly discovery” showcasing up and coming bands and a monthly free digital music compilation. The debut launch features a 24 song compilation with free downloads from bands like Asphyx, Augury, Black Anvil, Daath, Hands, Impending Doom, Leaves’ Eyes, Merauder, Séance, Skeletonwitch, Suicide Silence, Vader and more!

Head on over to MetalManiacs.com and let us know what you think.

-VN

Zenbu Media’s decision to shutter both Metal Maniacs and Metal Edge back in February was, for lack of a more poetic term, a total bummer. A lot of us grew up with those magazines; but beyond sentimental value, I think it’s just good to have as many different metal media outlets as possible. Just like it’s good to have as many different “actual” news outlets as possible; I’m all for multiple viewpoints, y’know?

So I’m glad to hear, per SMN, that “Mike Riddick, owner of Metalhit.com, stepped in to take over the development and operation of the new format for METAL MANIACS online.” In addition to the interviews, reviews, message boards, etc. that you would expect from Metal Maniacs (or any decent metal website), MM Online “will feature an Mp3 store with a catalog of more than 12,000 underground extreme metal songs from various bands and labels around the world.” Which is potentially very cool.

The new site is currently scheduled to launch in September at this URL. Clearly, it won’t be as cool as MetalSucks, but then, nothing ever is. Nudge nudge wink wink.

-AR

I’m ’bout to go party at a triple-birthday event then get rowdy at an outdoor winter BBQ tomorrow afternoon (Bacon Explosion, anyone?). But not before I can tell you what went down on MetalSucks this week:

• Dallas broke the silence on Earthsblood and told the “Blabberbitches” to fuck off.
• Zakk Wylde recorded on a Dope song, throwing his last shred of cred out the window. Yeah, Dope.
• Metal Hammer released a shady list of the best death metal songs ever. But at least Metal Hammer is still around: Metal Edge and Metal Maniacs bit the dust for good.
• David Draiman hit the singles market. J-Date.com, here comes the sickness!
• We spoke with Sunn O))) mainman / Southern Lord Records founder Greg Anderson and Sylosis’ Josh Middleton.
• We told you what we think about the new release by Dimension Zero while we asked you what you think about Lamb of God’s latest.
• Sigh’s foxy Dr. Mikannibal got naked and drank cow’s blood.
• We took shots at Camp Kill Yourself and Insane Clown Posse, and their fans took shots at us.

Peace in the mideast.

-VN

An anonymous source has confirmed to MetalSucks that legendary magazines Metal Maniacs and Metal Edge — both published by Zenbu Media — have closed their doors for good. At this time we can’t report whether either magazine will print any final issues or whether Zenbu itself is in trouble, but we can confirm that the end is nigh for these once mighty metal publications.

Any time hard luck falls upon anyone in the metal community it’s a tough pill to swallow, but Metal Edge and Metal Maniacs are fucking institutions and this news will undoubtedly send shockwaves throughout the metal world. Though these once mighty publications may not have carried the same weight in recent years that they once did, their demise delivers a shocking blow in one fell swoop to two industries already in peril, publishing and music. To say the absolute least, this is the end of an era.

Of the many implications running through my brain — not the least of which are the awesome people at both publications who are suddenly jobless — I keep coming back to two:

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