Sweden's SOILWORK have confirmed via their official web site that the limited-edition European/U.S. version of their upcoming album, "Stabbing the Drama", will include a bonus track, entitled "Wherever Thorns May Grow". The Japanese edition will feature "Wherever Thorns May Grow" and an additional bonus cut by the name of "Killed by Ignition". The follow-up to 2003's "Figure Number Five" was recorded at Fascination Street studios in Orebro and Dug-Out Productions in Uppsala, Sweden with producer Daniel Bergstrand (MESHUGGAH, IN FLAMES, STUCK MOJO). A February 28, 2005 release through Nuclear Blast Records is expected. With regards to the new material, SOILWORK vocalist Bjorn "Speed" Strid recently said, "In my ears it sounds like a mixture between 'Natural Born Chaos' (2002) and our latest effort, 'Figure Number Five' with a slight and interesting development."
"Stabbing the Drama" final track listing:
01. Stabbing The Drama 02. One With The Flies 03. Weapon Of Vanity 04. The Crestfallen 05. Nerve 06. Stalemate 07. Distance 08. Observation Slave 09. Fate In Motion 10. Blind Eye Halo 11. If Possible Bonus: 12. Wherever Thorns May Grow (ltd. edition U.S/Europe + bonus for Japan) 13. Killed by Ignition (bonus for Japan only)
Regarding the artwork for the new CD, the band write on their web site, "We have selected the cover for the album and it looks pretty different from what we've had in the past but really looks killer!!"
GRENOUER and TARTHARIA one after another completed mixing new promos at Astia Studios, Finland with Anssi Kippo as sound producer (CHILDREN OF BODOM, ENTWINE, TWILIGHTNING, etc.). The picture of musicians in the studio you can check ' .
Despite Internet reports to the contrary, FIREBIRD, the British band led by former CARCASS/NAPALM DEATH guitarist Bill Steer, have not split up. An SPV Records representative who spoke to Steer on Wednesday (Nov. 10) told BLABBERMOUTH.NET that the band are still very much alive and are planning on hitting the road soon.
FIREBIRD, whose latest album, "No. 3", came out in the U.S. in August, will apparently undergo at least one member change prior to the recording of their next CD, which is not expected before early 2005. Songtitles set to appear on the album include "Needle In The Groove", "Flying Blind", "Play The Fool" and "Bread, Butter & Champagne".
Orange County, California-based sextet BLEED THE SKY have inked a worldwide deal with Nuclear Blast Records. The group are currently recording their full-length debut at Spyder Studios in Strongsville, OH with producer Ben Schigel (CHIMAIRA, SWITCHED). An early 2005 release is expected.
Formed in early 2003, BLEED THE SKY, whose average age is 22, are said to specialize in "mixing groovy metal riffs with distinctive melodies and profound lyrics." The band have previously shared the stage with such acts as MURDERDOLLS, MY RUIN, SKINLAB and DEICIDE. More information is available at '
Drummer Snowy Shaw (KING DIAMOND, MERCYFUL FATE, MEMENTO MORI, DREAM EVIL) has announced that NOTRE DAME's Halloween show in Gothenburg, Sweden on November 6, 2004 was the band's final gig. The show, which coincided with the group's six-year anniversary, was recorded and filmed, and parts of it will be included on the band's posthumous DVD and live CD release, "Creepshow Freakshow Peepshow".
NOTRE DAME's latest CD, ' , was released earlier in the year through Osmose Productions.
Legendary Swedish doomsters CANDLEMASS have reconsidered their decision to split up and are headed into the studio to record a new album, tentatively due next summer. The band — vocalist Messiah Marcolin, bassist/founder Leif Edling, guitarist Mats "Mappe" Björkman, lead guitarist Lars Johansson and drummer Jan Lindh — are scheduled to begin recording the album at Stockholm's Polar studios on November 26 and mix the effort in January — just in time for their 20-year anniversary.
Commented Leif: "I had a bunch of pretty cool songs, talked to Mappe quite a lot during the summer and we both agreed it would be stupid not to do anything with it. At Mappe's wedding in August we all went up on a small stage and performed 'Samarithan' and 'Solitude' with pink guitars plus a really shitty sound. We were all absolutely drunk and we had suits and everything on us, but it was great fun!! I think it was that occasion that made us reconsider.
"Shortly after, I started to roughly demo some new tracks. I think I like did five tracks in a couple of weeks with a friend helping out. Then we had a meeting and decided to resurrect CANDLEMASS, book the studio, and send out a three-song demo to the record companies a.s.a.p. So we recorded 'Black Dwarf' and 'Spellbreaker' and put 'Witches' from the previous demo on it and I think the demo is on the way to the labels right now actually.
"Yes, we have two weeks in Polar booked without a deal, ha-ha!! But I'm not worried. I'm sure some smart label guy realize that a new CANDLEMASS album can outsell most of the usual crap that is released today. We are a unique band with a unique sound and next summer will belong to CANDLEMASS!!"
As previously reported, GMR Music has set a November 22 release date for CANDLEMASS' "Essential Doom" CD, a collection of the group's best material plus their newly recorded and previously unreleased song "Witches". The album will come with a bonus DVD featuring video footage of the band's performance at the Rock Hard Festival in Germany in 2003.
Finnish "fantasy metal" band BATTLELORE will enter SoundSuite Studio in Marseille, France on March 15, 2005 with producer Terje Refsnes (TRISTANIA, MORGUL, TURISAS) to begin recording their third album, tentatively due next summer via Napalm Records. The group's bassist, Miika Kokkola, won't be able to participate in the recordings because of "personal reasons," but he has not left the band, according to a posting on the group's web site.
Sundsvall, Sweden-based death metallers IN BATTLE have set "Terrorkings" as the tentative title of their next album, tentatively due in 2005 via Cold/Metal Blade Records. The follow-up to this year's "Welcome to the Battlefield" will be produced and mixed by Erik Rutan (HATE ETERNAL/ex-MORBID ANGEL guitarist.
German death metallers FRAGMENTS OF UNBECOMING have expanded their lineup to include new singer Sam Anetzberger (LEGACY). "For a long time we thought of using a separate singer/frontman only doing the vocals in order to be more variable on the stage and to have a mixture of two different lung soundings," the band said in a statement.
FRAGMENTS OF UNBECOMING released their full-length debut, "Skywards – A Sylphe's Ascension", last January through Metal Blade Records. The band consist of Anetzberger, guitarist/vocalist Stefan Weimar (ex-VENEREAL DISEASE), guitarist Sascha Ehrich (ex-MORTIFIED), drummer Ingo Maier (ex-VENEREAL DISEASE), and bassist Wolfram Schellenberg (ex-DISEMBOWLED). The group had previously issued a self-financed EP, titled "Bloodred Tales".
Chris Kontos (drums, ex-MACHINE HEAD, ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT), Sean Smithson (guitar, ex-SACRILEGE B.C., GRINCH) and Sean McGrath (guitar, IMPALED) are in the process of forming a "full-on metal" band in the vein of EXODUS, THE HAUNTED, PANTERA, SHADOWS FALL and MEGADETH, according to a recent online posting by Smithson. The as-yet-unnamed group, who already have a vocalist in mind, are currently seeking a bassist to complete the band's lineup. "McGrath and I tend to be somewhat 'intricate' players, so a lot of twin attack guitaring will be happening," Smithson writes. "We hope to find a bassist that can lock in with Kontos' style and really bring the rhythm section to life." More details as they become available.
German power metallers EDGUY will be issuing a "best of" collection, entitled "Hall of Flames", on December 6 via AFM Records. The double album contains all of the group's "hits," chosen personally by the band, and digitally remastered (CD 1), as well as lots of rare and previously unreleased material (CD 2). Additionally, there will be a multimedia section as well as two video clips (CD 2). The total playing time is about 130 minutes. The first edition will come as a noble digibook with liner notes and a 24-page booklet containing lots of photos.
"Hall of Flames" track listing:
CD 1:
01. Tears of a Mandrake 02. Jerusalem 03. Out of Control 04. The Headless Game 05. Scarlet Rose 06. Nailed to the Wheel 07. Vain Glory Opera 08. Theater of Salvation 09. Key to My Fate 10. Deadmaker 11. Land of the Miracle 12. Until We Rise Again 13. The Unbeliever
CD 2:
01. The Devil and the Savant 02. Wings of a Dream (2001) 03. For a Trace of Life 04. But Here I Am 05. La Marche Des Gendarmes 06. Avantasia (live) 07. Walk On Fighting (live) 08. Wake Up the King (live) 09. All the Clowns 10. The Headless Game (live Video)
Spinefarm Records will release Platinum Edition of NIGHTWISH's "Once" album on November 24. The album will include the regular "Once" material plus the bonus songs "Live To Tell The Tale", "White Night Fantasy" and the "Nemo" video by director Antti Jokinen. On November 24, Spinefarm will also release the third single from "Once", "Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan", containing the title track, an instrumental (orchestal) version of "Creek Mary's Blood" and a cover of MEGADETH's "Symphony of Destruction". Nuclear Blast Records will release the single in territories outside Finland under the title "Death Makes An Artist" in February. The bonus tracks are the same, but there will also be an "animated video" of the title track on this European version.
RAGE drummer Mike Terrana has announced plans to release a new solo album, entitled "Man of the World".
The CD is comprised of 11 tracks in the "instrumental rock fusion" vein, including six studio tracks and four live songs recorded in Moscow at the Premier Drum Day Festival 2003. Track 11 is a live bonus drum solo recorded in Tokyo, Japan during the most recent Japanese RAGE tour in 2002. Guest musicians on the CD include Victor Smolski (guitar, RAGE), Cyril Achard (guitar, TABOO VOODOO), Kevin Chown (bass, ARTENSION, MAGNITUDE 9) and Tony Macalpine (guitar, RING OF FIRE, STEVE VAI).
Commented Terrana: "Working as a professional musician for the past 25 years, I consider myself to be lucky enough to have seen many great things the world has to offer! I feel blessed to have had these experiences. The series of events that have occurred over the past five years during my stay in Europe has changed me… Henceforth yielding the title of my solo CD 'Man of the World'.
"I have always appreciated the art of making music and playing many different styles, because it enables me to show my evolution as a player and a person. I like to think that I am getting better or at least trying to get better!"
Drummer Horgh (ex-IMMORTAL) of HYPOCRISY has posted the following update at the band's official web site:
"I want to share some info about what's going on in the HYPOCRISY camp with you. As I write this, I have recorded the drums for the next HYPO album and I'm back in Bergen, Norway, where I live.
"I brought my new drum kit to the studio and it sounded killer. We all got impressed about how quick we found the sound we wanted. We spent like a half day finding the drum sound and then everything was ready for me to start the recordings.
"The recording process was as cool as it can get. Peter [Tägtgren, guitar/vocals] and Mikael [Hedlund, bass] were there in the studio all the time and within three and a half day I recorded eleven new songs.
"On the 9th of November, Mikael will start recording the bass guitar. When he is done with that, I am sure he will let you know how it went here on our official ' ".
Launch Radio Networks is reporting that Rob Zombie's second project as a feature film director, "The Devil's Rejects", has been given a release date of August 12, 2005. Although a February release for the movie had been previously rumored, Zombie himself announced online last week that the picture would not be finished in time for that. "The Devil's Rejects" is the sequel to Zombie's directorial debut, 2003's "House Of 1000 Corpses". The rocker-turned-filmmaker has said that this movie will be much darker and nastier than its predecessor.
Norwegian black metallers GORGOROTH made headlines in major Latin American newspapers after the audience rioted at their show in San Salvador (capital of El Salvador) on Saturday (Nov. 6). According to a posting on the band's web site, "the audience got so ecstatic over the presence of the first black metal act visiting their country that the situation got totally out of control. The security and the police could not handle the people outside the venue so they had to call in the special forces, 'del cuerpo de Proteccion a Personalides Importantes' (PPI). When the PPI reached the venue the masses of people not getting a ticket for the already sold-out show kicked in the entrance door and lots of fighting between the audience began. The audience started to kick in doors and toilets, several injuries occured and major damages to the venue. The PPI decided in the end to use gas on the audience to get the situation under control. When GORGOROTH entered the stage 30 security people had to be on stage preventing the audience to enter it. The fighting [continued] through GORGOROTH's performance and the PPI and the police had to hold the audience inside the venue with firearms to get the band in safety. GORGOROTH [walked away] from the incident without any injuries."
GORGOROTH drew international attention in early February after they were accused of "offending religious feelings" during a concert in Poland. The band were also suspected of breaching the Polish law on protection of animals by displaying the severed and impaled heads of sheep as part of their stage act.
Norwegian "dark metallers" AETERNUS recently spent time at Grieghallen Studios in Norway recording their new album, "Hexaeon", for an early 2005 release via Nocturnal Art Productions. The follow-up to last year's "A Darker Monument" is once again being produced by Eirik "Pytten" Hundvin, who has previously worked with ENSLAVED and MÖRK GRYNING, among others.
"Hexaeon" track listing:
01. The Darkest of Minds 02. GodHead Charlatan 03. The 9th Revolution 04. In The 3rd Dwells Oblivion 05. Hexaeon 06. Punished 07. Ageless Void 08. Christbait 09. What I Crave
AETERNUS recently announced the addition of new permanent guitarist Stian.
SOLUTION 13, the Finnish band featuring SENTENCED bassist Sami Kukkohovi and POISONBLACK drummer Tarmo Kanerva, have announced the addition of singer Risto Stenroos (ex-HUMAN) to the group's ranks. Stenroos joins the band as the replacement for Ilkka Järvenpää, who left the group earlier in the year. SOLUTION 13 recently spent time at Mastervox Studios recording their sophomore album, tentatively due in early 2005.
ASIA release the single “Long Way From Home“ from their new album “Silent Nation“. It will be in the shops on January 10th and contains the radio edits “Long Way From Home“ and “What About Love“ as well as previously unreleased acoustic versions of “Silent Nation“ and “Long Way From Home“; the first edition is released as a very nicely made digipak. At the end of January the German tour of the melodic rockers will start, also on the road with Asia: Barclay James Harvest (feat. Les Holroyd).
Arjen Anthony Lucassen makes no secret of it: of all AYREON albums released prior to his new crackerjack “The Human Equation“, “Actual Fantasy“ received the smallest number of interested buyers to date. This may change with the re-issue edition on InsideOut of this album originally released in 1996 because for that edition the Dutch really worked flat out: “Actual Fantasy: Revisited“ is out on December 6th on CD/DVD double package. On the CD you’ll find the newly recorded album with drummer Ed Warby, which means the drum computer from the past is passe. On the DVD you’ll find the complete original version for a direct comparison, the new “Actual Fantasy“ version in 5.1 mix, plus the video clip videoclip “The Stranger From Within“ in stereo and in 5.1 mix, and an additional video documentary telling you about the creation of “Actual Fantasy: Revisited“.
PAIN OF SALVATION are playing their first gigs in Greece after the release of their controversially discussed album “Be“. In February the DVD/CD release of the same title is going to be in out in the shops. There you’ll find the theatrical stage version of the thematic work, as it was brought to the stage in their home town Eskilstuna in Sweden last summer.
Their musical passion was never a deadly serious matter for British progsters IQ. When the band around singer Peter Nicholls used the motto “20 Years of Prog Nonsense“ for their anniversary tour 2002 this caused many laughters even among the die-hard fans that are pretty familiar with IQ’s British humour. Their birthday gig in London at the “Mean Fiddler“ club was a memorable event, among other things due a very special support act called The Lens. All this you will find on a double DVD which will be out at the end of November. This DVD will feature the complete shows of IQ and The Lens as well as a collection of infamous concert intro and outro films and a video tour documentary.
More than 15 years ago the Texan power trio KING’S X took off. Now they are presenting their first official live recording. The CD double album “Live All Over The Place“ shows guitarist Ty Tabor, bassist Doug Pinnick and drummer Jerry Gaskill across all periods of their band history and in top form. And there was no swindle by the groove rockers when they put this album together because later overdubs were not allowed!
A perfect start made keyboard player John Beck (ex-It Bites), drummer Chris Maitland (ex-Porcupine Tree), singer and guitarist John Mitchell (Arena), and bassist Pete Trewavas (Marillion) with their new band KINO. On December 8th the quartet makes its first ever live appearance for WDR‘s “Rockpalast“ in Cologne. The debut album will be out in February.
Sweden's metal machine IN FLAMES have topped the Pepsi Live charts on the Swedish music channel ZTV for the second week in a row with their latest video, "Touch of Red". The "Touch of Red" clip was shot in Los Angeles during late August/early September with director Patric Ullaeus of Revolver Film Company, who has previously worked with DIMMU BORGIR, CHILDREN OF BODOM and LACUNA COIL, among others. To view the "Touch of Red" video, visit IN FLAMES' web site at InFlames.com
Christian thrash metallers TOURNIQUET have been rejoined by longtime friend, guitarist Aaron Guerra. "As you may remember, it was a mutual parting a couple three years ago, as Aaron was starting a family and so on," the band write on their web site. "We are all now in a position to welcome him back and he is in a position to return — so... let's all give him a 'WELCOME BACK AARON'. Of course, this means you may have a chance to see TOURNIQUET live again..."
TOURNIQUET's last studio release, 2003's "Where Moth and Rust Destroy" (Metal Blade), featured special guest appearances by guitarists Marty Friedman (ex-MEGADETH) and Bruce Franklin (TROUBLE).
Switzerland's SAMAEL will release their new album, "Reign of Light", in early 2005 in North America through Galactical/Nuclear Blast Records. The CD, which was issued in Europe last month, was mixed at two different studios in Switzerland and was co-produced by Waldemar Sorychta (GRIP INC., LACUNA COIL, TIAMAT), who has worked with the group on most of their previous efforts. Mixing duties were handled by Stephan Glaumann (BON JOVI, RAMMSTEIN) in Stockholm, Sweden. A new single, entitled "Telepath", was recently released containing the title cut plus several remixes and non-album tracks.
SAMAEL's current tour, which is scheduled to end on December 6, will be extended to include five extra shows with German electro/metal outfit OOMPH! The newly added dates are as follows:
Dec. 11 - Bamberg, GER - Forum Dec. 12 - Freiberg, GER - Tivoli Dec. 16 - Bremen, GER - Aladin Dec. 17 - Trier, GER - Messeparkhalle Dec. 19 - Mannheim, GER - Capitol
Finnish melodic death/doom metallers WITHERING have parted ways with bassist/vocalist Raimo Crazyhorse. No reason was given for his departure. A replacement singer has yet to be announced.
WITHERING released their debut album, "Gospel of Madness", earlier in the year through Firebox Records. The CD was recorded at Tico Tico Studio by Ahti Kortelainen and was mastered at Finnvox studio. Audio samples are available from the group's official ' .
CHTON, the Norwegian death metal band featuring Kenneth of KEEP OF KALESSIN and Torstein of MANES, won a "Silver Frame" award at the Euro-Filmforum Scandinavia festival in Oslo for their video "Book of Black Earth" (' ). Also, photographer Lars Wara won a prize for one of the pictures he took of the band during the video shoot. Wara is featured in a two-page spread in this month's issue of the Norwegian photo magazine Fotografi.
CHTON's debut album, "Chtonian Lifecode", was recorded, mixed and mastered at Godt Selskap Studio between April and June 2004 and was released in August through Retribute Records. The album includes guest vocals by Attila Csihar (ex-MAYHEM, TORMENTOR) and Frediablo (NECROPHAGIA, GRIMFIST). A full-length MP3 of the album track "Unholy Communion" can be downloaded ' .
Launch Radio Networks is reporting that Maynard James Keenan of TOOL and A PERFECT CIRCLE appears on two politically oriented Election Day albums tomorrow (Tuesday, Nov. 2) — APC's "eMOTIVe", and as one of the performers on the "Axis Of Justice Concert Series Volume 1". Keenan said he feels the world is a more dangerous place than it was four years ago, and he blames the Bush administration. "They've had four years to reunite this country and show them that they do have good intentions," he told Launch. "They keep trying to say the world's safer without Saddam (Hussein), but it's not. They've fostered more terrorists, and we've lost control of the north and south of Iraq now. We used to have control of it, with him in power. He was contained. Now it's a mess."
"eMOTIVe" features two APC originals along with covers of political songs by JOHN LENNON, MARVIN GAYE, NICK LOWE, DEPECHE MODE, and others. The first single is a remake of Lennon's "Imagine". Keenan plans to begin working on a new TOOL album next month.
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Sweden's SOILWORK have confirmed via their official web site that the limited-edition European/U.S. version of their upcoming album, "Stabbing the Drama", will include a bonus track, entitled "Wherever Thorns May Grow". The Japanese edition will feature "Wherever Thorns May Grow" and an additional bonus cut by the name of "Killed by Ignition".
GRENOUER and TARTHARIA one after another completed mixing new promos at Astia Studios, Finland with Anssi Kippo as sound producer (CHILDREN OF BODOM, ENTWINE, TWILIGHTNING, etc.).
Legendary Swedish doomsters CANDLEMASS have reconsidered their decision to split up and are headed into the studio to record a new album, tentatively due next summer. The band — vocalist Messiah Marcolin, bassist/founder Leif Edling, guitarist Mats "Mappe" Björkman, lead guitarist Lars Johansson and drummer Jan Lindh — are scheduled to begin recording the album at Stockholm's Polar studios on November 26 and mix the effort in January — just in time for their 20-year anniversary.
Sundsvall, Sweden-based death metallers IN BATTLE have set "Terrorkings" as the tentative title of their next album, tentatively due in 2005 via Cold/Metal Blade Records. The follow-up to this year's "Welcome to the Battlefield" will be produced and mixed by Erik Rutan (HATE ETERNAL/ex-MORBID ANGEL guitarist. 
German power metallers EDGUY will be issuing a "best of" collection, entitled "Hall of Flames", on December 6 via AFM Records. The double album contains all of the group's "hits," chosen personally by the band, and digitally remastered (CD 1), as well as lots of rare and previously unreleased material (CD 2). Additionally, there will be a multimedia section as well as two video clips (CD 2). The total playing time is about 130 minutes. The first edition will come as a noble digibook with liner notes and a 24-page booklet containing lots of photos.