NONE MORE METAL

With inspiration from Nigel, and with an assist from VH1, we've now got yet another excuse to party on the magical date of 11.11.11 -- "National Metal Day." Here at the Phoenix, we're celebrating by putting BLACK SABBATH on the cover -- although you should totally go re-read our metal issue from over the summer -- and also by teaming up with our friends at MASSCONCERTS to give away a golden ticket to 15 of this winter's raddest metal shows.

Karlynn Holland, Black Forest

In the Phoenix's first annual METAL ISSUE, we introduced you to "WE STILL SEE THE BLACK," a survey of heavy metal-themed art that opens with a reception tonight at the New Art Center in Newton. (Here's a slideshow of works that'll be included.) For a quick introduction to a few of the artists, read the preview piece that we ran then

The revolutionary Los Angeles-based black-metal collective BLACK TWILIGHT CIRCLE -- home to Volahn, Arizmenda, Axeman, Kuxan Suum, Dolorvotre, and many others on their Crepusculo Negro label -- has given its first official interview to Boston Phoenix writer Ian Duncan-Brown, for the Phoenix's first-ever METAL ISSUE on stands now.

This week for our Metal Issue, BORN OF FIRE and the Boston Phoenix raised their swords together and compiled this killer 15-track homegrown metal compilation, The Phoenix Born of Fire Volume 1, which you can listen to or download after the jump for zero dollars and zero cents. Plus: info on our issue-release party and end of summer BBQ at O'Brien's.