Extreme metal band SATYRICON have signed a North American recording deal with KOCH Records. The Norwegian outfit will release its seventh studio album, The Age of Nero, on January 13, 2009.

Check out our interview with Satyr and Frost here.

Largely written in a remote cabin in the Norwegian mountains by frontman Satyr, The Age of Nero features eight compelling songs, from the unstoppable urgency of “Black Crow On A Tombstone” to the epic frenzy of “Die By My Hand” to the bleak nihilism of album closer “Den Siste.”

Recorded in Los Angeles’ Sound City Studios (Metallica, Slayer) with Satyr acting as producer and “Evil” Joe Baresi (Tool, Saviours, Queens of the Stone Age) twisting the knobs, The Age of Nero is a notable departure from the band’s previous way of working, as the guitars have been seriously downtuned, adding to the raw power of the record’s sound. Once again, drummer Frost adds his cyclonic percussion to Satyr’s pronounced guitar work.

When asked to comment on The Age of Nero, Satyr stated, “Everything that we do in Satyricon is built around the music itself. That means that our artwork and visuals are chosen or created to function well with the music – either to emphasize elements in the music or to contribute to a sense of totality. The layout for The Age of Nero is truly a fine piece of art; everything from the pictures chosen to the fonts and colors of the letters are carefully picked in order to feel right for this album and its general atmosphere. The album title has multiple references to subjects that on some level pertain to the album itself; ‘Nero’ is a metaphor for darkness but also for destructive elements in mankind that threaten to bring down an empire. The ‘Age of Nero’ refers to Satyricon as that famous piece of literature depicts scenes from Nero’s Rome, but it also refers to our own time and the threat of downfall that is again mirrored in the apocalyptic feel of our music. It all neatly comes together.”

The final track listing for The Age of Nero is as follows:

1.) Commando
2.) The Wolfpack
3.) Black Crow on a Tombstone
4.) Die By My Hand
5.) My Skin is Cold
6.) The Sign of the Trident
7.) Last Man Standing
8.) Den Siste

The brand new music video for the song “Black Crow on a Tombstone” has been posted online and is available for viewing now at this location HERE.

SATYRICON will launch a North American tour in support of The Age of Nero beginning January 15 in Sayreville, NJ. The band will hit the road alongside Cradle of Filth for a 33 city trek that is scheduled to run through February 28 in Philadelphia, PA. Check out the full listing of 2009 SATYRICON tour dates below.

SATYRICON TOUR DATES:
(all dates also include Cradle of Filth)

January 15 Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom
January 16 Worcester, MA The Palladium
January 17 Montreal, QC Metropolis
January 18 Quebec City, QC Theatre Capitole
January 20 Toronto, ON Sound Academy
January 21 Cleveland, OH House of Blues
January 23 Detroit, MI Harpo’s
January 24 Milwaukee, WI The Eagles Club
January 25 Chicago, IL House of Blues
January 26 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue
January 28 Englewood, CO Gothic Theatre
January 30 Calgary, AB MacEwan Hall Ballroom
January 31 Edmonton, AB The Union
February 2 Vancouver, BC Commodore Ballroom
February 3 Seattle, WA Showbox
February 4 Portland, OR Roseland
February 9 Orangevale, CA The Boardwalk
February 10 San Francisco, CA Regency Center
February 11 Los Angeles, CA Henry Fonda Theater
February 12 Anaheim, CA The Grove of Anaheim
February 13 Tempe, AZ Marquee Theatre
February 14 Las Vegas, NV House of Blues
February 16 San Antonio, TX Scout Bar
February 17 Dallas, TX House of Blues
February 18 Houston, TX House of Blues
February 20 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade
February 21 Orlando, FL The Club at Firestone
February 22 Pompano Beach , FL Cinema Club
February 24 Asheville, NC Orange Peel
February 25 Norfolk, VA The Norva
February 26 Baltimore, MD Ram’s Head Live
February 27 New York, NY Nokia Theater
February 28 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero