Swedish black/death metal band TORCHBEARER have announced that their third full length album Death Meditations will be released on April 25th via Vic Records.

‘Coffin-Shaped Heart’ - a brand new song, from the upcoming album can be heard exclusively at the band’s Facebook page.

Death Meditations was produced by Plec Johansson (WATAIN, SCAR SYMMETRY, SOLUTION .45, MISERATION). Artwork for the album was done by Pär Olofsson (IMMORTAL, IMMOLATION, MALEVOLENT CREATION).

Rhythm guitarist and founder Christian Älvestam comments: "For me Death Meditations represents everything that is Torchbearer - Speed! Power! Melody! Aggression! All wrapped up in a striking production and marked by the philosophy of Hagakure! To me Death Meditations is the ultimate Torchbearer experience - so far!"

Death Meditations is a concept album based on the philosophy of Hagakure - the way of the samurai. It's not about samurai warriors though. It's about the thoughts and ideas portrayed in the book Hagakure.

Also old school death metal machine RIBSPREADER will release their fourth full length album The Van Murders on April 25th via Vic Records.

The track ‘Cadaver Disposal’ taken from The Van Murders, can be heard at the band’s MySpace page.

The Van Murders is the first Ribspreader concept album about two killers named The Cleaner and Mr Filth. The cover art was done by Turkka Rantanen (THE GROTESQUERY, DEMILECH, DEMIURG). The album was mixed/mastered by Patrick Bruss (IMPETIGO, DETERIOROT) at the Filth Chamber in Denver, Colorado, USA, who also performed lead guitars on this album.