Finland's THYRANE have parted ways with guitarist Avather due to "personal reasons." A replacement guitarist has yet to be announced. THYRANE, who last summer announced the addition of session drummer Kristonic (a.k.a. T. Kristian, YEARNING, SAATTUE, CARCASE INC.) to the group's ranks, released their third full-length effort, "Hypnotic", in 2003 through Century Media Records. The album, which was released in Finland through Spikefarm Records, was mixed at SundiCoop Studios and mastered at Finnvox Studios.
PARADISE LOST have uploaded the video for their new single, "Forever After", at their official web site. Check it out: ' , ' (Real Media). The video, which will only be available online for the weekend, was recently filmed in Berlin with director Volker Hannwacker. Photos from the video shoot can be found at this ' .
As previously reported, "Forever After" has reached No. 5 on the German Deutsche Alternative Charts (DAC). View the whole chart ' .
"Forever After" (view cover ' ) will be released on February 14 in two versions. One will be a standard three-track single, the other will be a limited-edition five-track CD with a bonus DVD. PARADISE LOST's new self-titled album (view cover ' ) — named in celebration of the group's 10th studio album since their full-length debut, "Lost Paradise", was released in 1990 — was recorded primarily at Chapel Studios in Lincolnshire, England under the guidance of producer Rhys Fulber (FEAR FACTORY, FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY). The follow-up to 2002's "Symbol of Life" is the group's first CD to feature drummer Jeff Singer (ex-BLAZE).
"Paradise Lost" is scheduled for release on February 28 through G.U.N. Records.
Dutch "atmospheric blackened thrash-death metal" band AS IT BURNS have entered Franky's Recording Kitchen studio with producer Jens van der Valk (AUTUMN, CANTARA) to begin recording their new CD, tentatively titled "Global Ruin". The follow-up to 2003's "Mortal Dusk" is expected late spring/early summer through an as-yet-undisclosed label (the band were previously signed to now-defunct Cold Blood Industries).
In January, CELL DIVISION has been at the Thommy Hein studio in Berlin to record two new songs: „Dirge For The Doomed“ and „Shut Up“. The first single „Dirge For The Doomed“ – an anti-war song - will be released in May 2005 on T:D:M Thunderdome. Additionally, there will be an exclusive DJ remix from Zeraphine of „Dirge For The Doomed“ on the single. The band also shooted a videoclip in Berlin and Zurich, where the actor John Keogh (The Pianist, Around the world in 80 days, etc.) plays a dead soldier. The videoclip is produced by Jacques a Bale Pictures, Los Angeles.
THE FLAMING ARTS Booking Agency presents The biggest event of the early 2005 on CIS metal-scene - DEMIGOD Eastern Europe Tour 2005 BEHEMOTH (Poland) + NEOLITH (Poland) 12.03 - Minsk (Belarus) 13.03 - Sankt-Peterburg (Russia) 14.03 - Ufa (Russia) - without NEOLITH 15.03 - Ekaterinburg (Russia) - without NEOLITH 17.03 - Tomsk (Russia) - without NEOLITH 18.03 - Rostov-on-Don (Russia) 19.03 - Moscow (Russia) 20.03 - Rjazan (Russia) 21.03 - Voronezh (Russia) 22.03 - Kiev (Ukraine)
Speaks Vadim Homich, tour organiser, BHEMOTH manager in Eastern Europe and THE FLAMING ARTS owner: "We are really happy, thwe got the ability to organise concerts of BEHEMOTH here again. Unfortunately, we had to leave only 10 concerts (were planning 17). But we're glad, that each new tour gives us new cities, what shows the growth of our metal-scene. The second good news: BEHEMOTH will be supported by Polish unique death/black metal band NEOLITH. Group released their second full-length album in summer 2004 through THE FLAMING ARTS Records. So, people who will visit the tour concerts are able to feel the high quality of Polish metal".
In other news, The Flaming Arts also prepare DEVILYN Eastern Europe tour in May. Dates coming soon...
BLIND GUARDIAN frontman Hansi Kursch has posted the following message at the group's official web site:
"Though you have not heard a lot from us during the last months we have not been lazy at all. There are a lot of things going on at the moment. Just to mention a few: the DEMONS AND WIZARDS production is making good progress and the same can be said about the songwriting for the next BLIND GUARDIAN album which is at a very important point.
"Andre [Olbrich, guitar] and I have completed five songs for the new album and 10 songs for the orchestral project. Yesterday, we had a meeting with Charlie Bauerfeind (who is going to produce both albums) during which we have set up a rough schedule for the next months. We definitely will start the production within the year and it won't take as much time to accomplish it as it did with 'A Night at the Opera'.
"With regards to the next DEMONS AND WIZARDS album I am happy to tell you that five songs have been mixed for it already and that there are seven more to go. How many of them we are going to use for the regular album and how many we will use as bonus material I can't tell you right now. There are 11 Schaffer/Kursch songs and one cover tune. We will be done with everything mid-February. The album surely will be released in late spring, or early summer. I am very pleased with the songs and so is Jon [Schaffer, ICED EARTH mainman]. My favorite tune at the moment is called 'Touched by the Crimson King'. We have not spoken about an album title yet but have to make a decision rather soon. I will let you know."
BLIND GUARDIAN frontman Hansi Kursch has posted the following message at the group's official web site:
"Though you have not heard a lot from us during the last months we have not been lazy at all. There are a lot of things going on at the moment. Just to mention a few: the DEMONS AND WIZARDS production is making good progress and the same can be said about the songwriting for the next BLIND GUARDIAN album which is at a very important point.
"Andre [Olbrich, guitar] and I have completed five songs for the new album and 10 songs for the orchestral project. Yesterday, we had a meeting with Charlie Bauerfeind (who is going to produce both albums) during which we have set up a rough schedule for the next months. We definitely will start the production within the year and it won't take as much time to accomplish it as it did with 'A Night at the Opera'.
"With regards to the next DEMONS AND WIZARDS album I am happy to tell you that five songs have been mixed for it already and that there are seven more to go. How many of them we are going to use for the regular album and how many we will use as bonus material I can't tell you right now. There are 11 Schaffer/Kursch songs and one cover tune. We will be done with everything mid-February. The album surely will be released in late spring, or early summer. I am very pleased with the songs and so is Jon [Schaffer, ICED EARTH mainman]. My favorite tune at the moment is called 'Touched by the Crimson King'. We have not spoken about an album title yet but have to make a decision rather soon. I will let you know."
Sweden's WOLF have been confirmed for the Rock Hard Festival, set to take place May 13-15 at Amphitheater in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. The complete list of bands currently scheduled to perform at the festival is as follows:
ACCEPT AMON AMARTH CHILDREN OF BODOM COMMUNIC ENSIFERUM HEAVEN SHALL BURN HELLFUELED JON OLIVA'S PAIN MASTERPLAN OVERKILL PRETTY MAIDS SONATA ARCTICA THE HAUNTED THRESHOLD UNLEASHED WOLF
More information is available at RockHardFestival.de.
The End Records has set a March 22 North American release date for GREEN CARNATION's fourth studio album, "The Quiet Offspring".
Commented singer Kjetil Nordhus: "The End Records did a fantastic job for us on 'Light of Day, Day of Darkness', and we are exited about what Andreas [Katsambas, The End Records founder] and the others can do this time. We think we have made an album which in many ways are easier for a label to deal with than the earlier records, and we are looking forward to see what can be done in USA."
"The Quiet Offspring" (' ) was recorded at Sound Suite studio in Marseille, France and was produced by Terje Refsnes. The cover artwork was created by Niklas Sundin of Cabin Fever Media (IN FLAMES, ARCH ENEMY, DARK TRANQUILLITY). Audio samples of six cuts from the album can be downloaded at ' .
GREEN CARNATION, the Norwegian band featuring Tchort (a.k.a. Terje Vik Schei, ex-EMPEROR, SATYRICON, EINHERJER), recently parted ways with drummer Anders Kobro and replaced him with Tommy Jackson, a longtime fan and friend of the band.
German power metallers RUNNING WILD have uploaded a number of new promotional photos at ' .
As previously reported, RUNNING WILD will release their new album"Rogues En Vogue" (G.U.N./BMG Ariola) on February 21 — one week earlier than the previously announced February 28 release date.
To celebrate this event, the band are inviting everybody to attend their release party and pre-listen to the whole album together with guitarist/vocalist Rolf Kasparek and most of his bandmates on February 18 at Headbangers Ballroom in Hamburg, Germany. Tickets are available for 5 euros.
"Rogues En Vogue" (' ) track listing:
01. Draw the Line 02. Angel of Mercy 03. Skeleton Dance 04. Skulls & Bones 05. Born Dead, Dying Worse 06. Black Gold 07. Soul Vampires 08. Rogues en Vogue 09. Winged & Feathered 10. Dead Man's Road 11. The War 12. Cannonball Tongue (limited-edition bonus track) 13. Libertalia (limited-edition bonus track)
BLACKMORE'S NIGHT's track "Loreley" is the theme song of a new German "reality" series "Die Burg", which was scheduled to premiere Sunday, January 23. The program is said to be a reality-based show that will follow families as they try to live they way it was back in the Renaissance times.
BLACKMORE'S NIGHT recently released a compilation CD, "Beyond the Sunset - The Romantic Collection", which brings together 13 ballads from across their catalogue. "Once In a Million Years" is the sole new track on the collection, which also includes a remixed version of "Ghost of a Rose".
Blistering.com has compiled a list of the Top 10 PANTERA songs of all time as voted on by the web site's writing staff. A detailed commentary and description of each track by Jay Rajiva is also included.
Top 10 PANTERA songs of all time, according to Blistering.com:
01. Strength Beyond Strength (from 1994's "Far Beyond Driven") 02. Mouth For War (from 1992's "Vulgar Display Of Power") 03. Primal Concrete Sledge (from 1990's "Cowboys From Hell") 04. Walk (from 1992's "Vulgar Display Of Power") 05. Five Minutes Alone (from 1994's "Far Beyond Driven") 06. The Great Southern Trendkill (from 1996's "The Great Southern Trendkill") 07. This Love (from 1992's "Vulgar Display Of Power") 08. Slaughtered (from 1994's "Far Beyond Driven") 09. War Nerve (from 1996's "The Great Southern Trendkill") 10. Drag The Waters (from 1996's "The Great Southern Trendkill")
Sweden's IN FLAMES won the "P3 Guld" award from radio station P3 in the "Best Rock/Metal Album Of The Year" category (for their 2004 release "Soundtrack to Your Escape"). Other nominees in the "Rock/Metal" category included NASUM (for "Shift"), THE HIVES (for "Tyrannosaurus Hives"), THE HAUNTED (for "rEVOLVEr") and CULT OF LUNA (for "Salvation"). The award ceremony took place Saturday (Jan. 22) in Gothenburg, Sweden.
"Soundtrack to Your Escape" sold an impressive 10,659 copies in the United States during its first week of release in April 2004 to debut at No. 145 on The Billboard 200 chart. The album was recorded at a rented house/converted studio in Denmark with producers Daniel Bergstrand (MESHUGGAH, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD) and Цrjan Цrnkloo (ex-MISERY LOVES CO.) and was mixed at Galaxy Studios in Mol, Belgium. Mastering duties were handled at the Cutting Room in Stockholm, Sweden.
MANTAS, the new band featuring former VENOM guitarist Mantas, will be releasing a new six-song EP, entitled "Maximum Brutality", through Demolition Records via Universal distribution. No further information is currently available.
MANTAS' most recent release was a full-length album, "Zero Tolerance", available now from the Demolition Records online shop.
REBELLION, the German band that features in its ranks former GRAVE DIGGER members Uwe Lulis (guitar) and Tomi Göttlich (bass), have inked a long-term deal with Massacre Records. The follow-up to 2003's "Born a Rebel" will be the first part of a Viking trilogy and is scheduled for release late spring. A photo taken at the contract signing can be viewed at http://www.rebellion.st/img/massacredeal.jpg (l-r: REBELLION guitarist Björn Eilen, Tomi Goettlich, Thomas Hertler of Massacre Records, Uwe Lulis).
BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION have announced the addition of guitarist Ginger (THE WILDHEARTS) and bassist Scott Sorry (ex-AMEN) to the group's ranks. Ginger is scheduled to arrive in California from his native England on Sunday (Jan. 23) and spend the next two weeks assisting the rest of the group as they complete the songwriting process for their sophomore album.
As previously reported, BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION are scheduled to enter the studio on February 1 to begin recording the follow-up to last year's "Here Come the Brides", tentatively due in June. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "White Trash", "White Horse", "Blown Away", "Dead Man's Ruin", "Brotherhood" and "Criminal".
Swedish melodic metallers SUPREME MAJESTY have pushed back the release date for their third full-length album, "Elements of Creation", to March 28 from the previously announced February 28. The CD will include a bonus video containing footage from the making of the album. Artwork and layout will be done by C.A Interactive (KATATONIA, MORIFADE, AXENSTAR, SKYFIRE).
SUPREME MAJESTY issued their second album, "Danger", in September 2003 through Germany's Massacre Records. Several MP3 soundclips from the CD can be downloaded at ' The band recently replaced drummer Jocke Unger with Johan Rydberg (ex-SANZIA, IN BLACK).
Finnish power metal band legends Stratovarius have re-formed. The line-up of Timo Tolkki (guitar), Timo Kotipelto (vocals), JMichael (drums), Jari Kainulainen (bass) and Jens Johansson (keyboards) are working on songs for a new album
This year Arjen Anthony Lucassen is celebrating the 10th anniversary of his band project AYREON. To match this event, InsideOut is completing the new edition of the entire Ayreon back catalogue with the release of “The Final Experiment“ by the end of February. This reissue features the original recording of “Final Experiment“, disc two a large part of the album newly and semi-acoustically recorded.
For many JADIS fans, “More Than Meets The Eye“, debut album of guitarist and singer Gary Chandler’s band which was founded back in 1992, is still the best one. At the end of February it will be remixed and re-released featuring a bonus disc. This additional disc will contain rare and previously unreleased material, amongst other songs many demo tracks produced by Marillion’s Steve Rothery prior to the release of “More Than Meets The Eye“. In March, Jadis will record a new studio album, some of the material will be played live in three shows in Belgium, England, and the Netherlands in January and February.
At the end of January the new reissue label REVISITED RECORDS – A division of InsideOut Music is launched. Four albums by electronic pioneer KLAUS SCHULZE, worked up with high quality, mark the beginning of the new label, many more will follow. A new album by Schulze will be released via SPV soon. More reissues are to come with Revisited Records, for instance a big part of the back catalogue of Krautrock pioneers Amon Duul II.
Prog metal rockers SHADOW GALLERY have now signed to InsideOut Music. The six-piece band from the US is currently recording the successor to their 2000 studio release “Legacy“. The concept work with the working title “Room Five“ is connected to “Tyranny“ from 1998. Fans fo the genre regard all four so far released Shadow Gallery albums as classics.
“Hot Phish: Introducing the leading contenders for Phish’s jam-smeared crown” ? this headline was written by David Fricke, high class journalist with the American “Rolling Stone”, for his article about “Anchor Drops”, second album of jam rock band UMPHREY’S McGEE. Jam rock? This is a scene mostly flourishing in the United States and its protagonists provide live exitement as it once was the case with Greatful Dead or Little Feat, and today for instance Phish, the Dave Matthews Band, Widespread Panic, or Umphrey’s McGee, because they bubble over with improvisation. Umphrey’s McGee, the band of 28 year old guitarist and singer Brendan Bayliss plays up to 160 concert each year since 1999. InsideOut Music releases “Anchor Drops“ throughout Europe at the end of February. In March the band plays its first European gigs at the Amsterdam Melkweg.
DIMMU BORGIR bassist /vocalist Simen Hestnaes (a.k.a. ICS Vortex, ex-BORKNAGAR, LAMENTED SOULS) has officially rejoined ARCTURUS as the group's permanent vocalist. His first appearance back with the group will take place at the Inferno Festival kick-off event at the Underworld in London on January 27.
Hestnaes had previously performed vocals on three tracks and written the lyrics for one song on ARCTURUS' 1997 album, "La Masquerade Infernale".
ARCTURUS announced earlier this month that vocalist ?yvind H?geland (SPIRAL ARCHITECT) had left the group. No reason was given for his departure.
The cover artwork for the new PARADISE LOST single, "Forever After", has been posted online at this location.
"Forever After" is the first single off PARADISE LOST's upcoming self-titled effort, due on February 21 through G.U.N. Records. The "Forever After" single, which features backing vocals from Heather Thompson (TAPPING THE VEIN) and Leah Randi, will precede the album on February 7.
"Paradise Lost" — named in celebration of the group's 10th studio album since their full-length debut, "Lost Paradise", was released in 1990 — was recorded primarily at Chapel Studios in Lincolnshire, England under the guidance of producer Rhys Fulber (FEAR FACTORY, FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY). The follow-up to 2002's "Symbol of Life" is the group's first CD to feature drummer Jeff Singer (ex-BLAZE).
Sony Music U.K. has uploaded the cover artwork for JUDAS PRIEST's new album, "Angel of Retribution". Check it out at this location.
As previously reported, Epic will celebrate the reunion of the "Painkiller"-era JUDAS PRIEST lineup by issuing a DualDisc for the "Angel of Retribution" title. It is scheduled for March 1 and coinciding with the release of the CD.
"Angel of Retribution" track listing:
01. Judas Rising 02. Deal With The Devil 03. Revolution 04. Worth Fighting For 05. Demonizer 06. Wheels Of Fire 07. Angel 08. Hellrider 09. Eulogy 10. Lochness
IRON MAIDEN's reissue of their classic single, "The Number of the Beast", has entered the official Euro chart at No. 7. There are hopes for the single to stay in the Top 10 another week as the first-week numbers are based solely on U.K., Irish, Swiss and French chart positions (territories where the single was released first).
This is MAIDEN's highest entry on the Euro singles chart since "Man on the Edge" (No. 7) in 1995 and "Holy Smoke" (No. 6) in 1990.
As previously reported, EMI re-released "The Number of The Beast" as a single in celebration of IRON MAIDEN's phenomenal 25-year history and in keeping with the recent international chart success of their double DVD, "The Early Years".
According to a posting on his official web site, German guitarist AXEL RUDI PELL will appear at various summer festivals in Europe, like Bang Your Head and Wacken in Germany, and Graspop in Belgium. The plan is for PELL to record the next studio album in September/October for a January 2006 European release via SPV Records. A tour in support of the album will take place around March/April 2006.
Members of AYREON, FLOWER KINGS, EXMORTEM, KOLDBORN, MERCENARY, MANTICORA, URKRAFT, THE PSYKE PROJEKT, MNEMIC, BLAZING ETERNITY, SPECTRAL MORTUARY, VOLBEAT, KONKHRA, BEHEMOTH and JERKSTORE have provided Denmark's Antenna magazine with their personal Top Five highlights and biggest disappointments of 2004. Read the results ' .
Bassist Marko Pukkila of the Finnish melodic metallers ALTARIA has revealed in an online posting that he and drummer Tony Smedjebacka have been busy writing and pre-producing material for the third ALTARIA album. "So far we have come up with a few great tunes and it looks like the third, as-yet-untitled album will be heavier than 'Divinity' but will still be melodic with catchy melodies," he writes.
PARADISE LOST have uploaded the video for their new single, "Forever After", at their official web site. Check it out: ' , ' (Real Media). The video, which will only be available online for the weekend, was recently filmed in Berlin with director Volker Hannwacker. Photos from the video shoot can be found at this ' .
THE FLAMING ARTS Booking Agency presents
Sweden's WOLF have been confirmed for the Rock Hard Festival, set to take place May 13-15 at Amphitheater in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. The complete list of bands currently scheduled to perform at the festival is as follows:
Sweden's IN FLAMES won the "P3 Guld" award from radio station P3 in the "Best Rock/Metal Album Of The Year" category (for their 2004 release "Soundtrack to Your Escape"). Other nominees in the "Rock/Metal" category included NASUM (for "Shift"), THE HIVES (for "Tyrannosaurus Hives"), THE HAUNTED (for "rEVOLVEr") and CULT OF LUNA (for "Salvation"). The award ceremony took place Saturday (Jan. 22) in Gothenburg, Sweden.