Swiss hard rockers GOTTHARD entered the studio late last year with producers Leo Leoni and Ronald Prent (who worked with the band on their last effort, "Lipservice") to begin recording their new album, entitled "Domino Effect". An early summer release is expected.
In a recent interview with Spain's Laestadea.com, MASTERPLAN guitarist Roland Grapow has confirmed plans for a collaborative project with his ex-HELLOWEEN bandmates Michael Kiske (vocals) and Kai Hansen (guitar, vocals). An excerpt from the chat follows:
Q: About Hansen and Kiske, there's a rumor of a project. Is that right?
Grapow: "It's not a rumor, it's true. We’re just waiting for the right moment. We gathered together two or three times in the last two years. What happens is that Michael doesn't want to do anything with too much hard rock or too much heavy metal, too much dark or negative, he wants to do something more lively. So, probably, when I finish the tour with MASTERPLAN, I'll begin to write some tracks for Mike. Kai too. We'll see what will come out. But, once and for all, we will do something."
Q: Does this project have a name?
Grapow: "No, not yet! Perhaps it will be called HELLOWEEN! (Laughs). No, it’s a joke. At the moment we haven't thought of any names because we haven't planned it out yet. Now we only want to write a few songs which we feel comfortable with, that Michael doesn't find negative, but we all love. Because we don't want to make a Kiske solo album with two famous guitarists from the past. We search for music which speaks for itself without any need to be aggressive or negative."
A video for the new WALTARI song "Wish I Could Heal" has been posted on the ' . Also available at the same location is a streaming audio version of the track. The cut comes off the Finnish band's upcoming album, "Release Date", due on February 26 via Dockyard 1.
Legendary German progressive thrash outfit MEKONG DELTA has set "Lurking Fear" as the title of its upcoming "comeback" album, tentatively due later in the year. Working songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Rules of Corruption", "Society of Fear", "Ratters", "Shadow of Truth" and "Immortal Hate".
As previously reported, MEKONG DELTA has recruited Leo Szpigiel (ANGEL DUST, CROWS, SCANNER, DUKE) to sing on the new CD.
Danish symphonic black metallers ILLNATH have tapped Reno Kiilerich (ex-DIMMU BORGIR, PANZERCHRIST, DEW-SCENTED) to play drums on their third album, entitled "Three Nights in the Sewers of Sodom". The CD is being recorded at Borsing Studios and will feature artwork by Wilhelm Steiner.
CHRIS CAFFERY signed with Metal Heaven and his new album will have the title "Pins And Needles".The songs definitely are deadringers for any SAVATAGE fan. However, there is a more powerful, aggressive, experimental and focused attack that is sure to catch the ears of any metal fan. The album was produced by CAFFERY together with Nik Chinboukas at Nik's Hot Tracks Studio, Spin Studios and Happy Beaver Studios, Astoria, NY.
The ltd. edition first pressing of this release will be a digi-pack incl. the bonus track "Once Upon A Time".
The tracklist of "Pins & Needles" will be as follows: 01. Pins & Needles 02. Sixty-Six 03. Torment 04. Walls 05. YGBFKM 06. Sad 07. Chained 08. Worms 09. Crossed 10. The Time 11. Metal East 12. Qualdio 13. The Temple 14. Once Upon A Time (bonus track)
According to the web site of the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, CRIMSON GLORY frontman John Patrick Jr. "Midnight" McDonald was arrested last Saturday night, January 20 in Sarasota, Florida and charged with "DUI [driving under the influence] with .20 [blood-alcohol level] or higher or having a passenger under 18" years of age. He was also cited for driving with a suspended/cancelled/revoked license. Bond for the 44-year-old vocalist — who gave his occupation as "painter" to the authorities at the time of the arrest — was set at $1,500. He is scheduled to be arraigned on February 8.
SLAVIOR, the new band featuring former FATES WARNING/WARLORD drummer Mark Zonder, MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP guitarist/keyboardist Wayne Findlay and ex-TRIBE OF GYPSIES singer Gregg Analla, has finalized the track listing for its self-ttiled debut album, due on April 3 via Inside Out Music.
A versatile, melodic hard rock/metal act, SLAVIOR's debut album features elements familiar to Zonder's progressive metal past, but also introduces a wide array influences including reggae, hip-hop, and modern rock.
The band had originally inked a deal with Greece's Black Lotus Records, but financial turmoil eventually caused the label to fold, leaving SLAVIOR to re-evaluate matters and come to their initial choice of labels, Inside Out.
"Slavior" track listing: 01. Clonus 02. Her Animal 03. Dog Boots 04. Bitch 05. King Of The Universe 06. Inside Black 07. Warfinger 08. Chocolate 09. Pods Of Trance 10. 2116
REDEMPTION, the Los Angeles-based progressive metal band led by guitarist/keyboardist/songwriter Nicolas van Dyk and featuring vocal legend Ray Alder of FATES WARNING, will release its third CD, "The Origins of Ruin", on April 3 via Inside Out Music.
Injecting traditional progressive metal with an uncommon degree of heaviness and melody, REDEMPTION's new CD follows up 2005's breakthrough release "The Fullness of Time", the band's first with Alder, which generated tremendous critical and popular acclaim. With Bernie Versailles (guitars, AGENT STEEL), Chris Quirarte (drums, PRYMARY) and new bass player Sean Andrews (who performed on Henning Pauly's CHAIN project), REDEMPTION is one of the most prominent up-and-coming progressive metal bands.
"The Origins of Ruin" track listing: 01. The Suffocating Silence (download mp3) 02. Bleed Me Dry 03. The Death of Faith & Reason 04. Memory 05. The Origins of Ruin 06. Man of Glass 07. Blind My Eyes 08. Used to Be 09. Fall on You 10. Precious Things (TORI AMOS cover) 11. Love To Love (UFO cover)
According to The Vault, Finnish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH have lined up the following U.S. dates in October/November:
Oct. 20 - Worcester, MA @ The Palladium Oct. 27 - Chicago, IL @ House of Blues Nov. 01 - Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater Nov. 12 - Houston, TX @ The Meridian Nov. 14 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Culture Room
NIGHTWISH is currently working on its new album for a tentative late summer release. The band is expected to announce a new singer and release a brand new single at the end of May.
NIGHTRAGE: 'A New Disease Is Born' Track Listing Finalized - Jan. 21, 2007 Swedish/Greek death metal outfit NIGHTRAGE has finalized the track listing for upcoming Lifeforce Records debut (third album overall), "A New Disease Is Born", due in North America on April 17. The CD was recorded at Hansen studios in Ribe, Denmark with producer Jacob Hansen (RAUNCHY, MERCENARY, FEAR MY THOUGHTS, HEAVEN SHALL BURN).
"A New Disease Is Born" track listing: 01. Spiral (4:39) 02. Reconcile (4:25) 03. Death-Like Silence (4:36) 04. A Condemned Club (3:45) 05. Scars of the Past (3:39) 06. De-Fame (2:52) 07. Scathing (4:36) 08. Surge of Pity (4:12) 09. Encircle (3:34) 10. Drone (3:23) 11. Spiritual Impulse (3:33) 12. A New Disease Is Born (instrumental) (2:58)
Long-running Italian metallers WHITE SKULL have finally confirmed that they have parted ways with singer Gus Gabarrò (as BLABBERMOUTH.NET first reported on Oct. 19, 2006). Replacing Gabarrò in the group's current lineup is female vocalist Elisa "Over" De Palma.
ENSIFERUM has finalized the track listing for its third album, "Victory Songs", due on February 21 via Spinefarm. The CD was recorded at Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki with producer Janne Joutsenniemi.
"Victory Songs" track listing: 01. Ad Victoriam 02. Blood Is the Prince of Glory 03. Deathbringer from the Sky 04. Ahti 05. One More Magic Potion 06. Wanderer 07. Raised by the Sword 08. The New Dawn 09. Victory Song
A limited-edition version of the album includes an extra track, "Lady in Black", and a bonus DVD. A CD single, "One More Magic Potion", will precede the album on February 7. Also included on the single will be "Lady in Black".
Spinefarm Records recently revealed the cover artwork for the fifth FINNTROLL album, which may or may not be entitled "Ur Jordens Djup" ("From the Depths of the Earth"), due in Finland on March 28. Check it out at this location. The CD, which was recorded by Nino Laurenne at Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki, will be the group's first release with new vocalist Mathias Lillmåns (a.k.a. Vreth; TWILIGHT MOON) following the departure of Tapio Wilska (SETHIAN, ex-WIZZARD, former session vocalist for NIGHTWISH) last spring. Lillmåns is reportedly 24 years old, and like FINNTROLL's original vocalist, Katla Mathias, is Fenno-Swedish, with Swedish as his mother tongue.
"Ur Jordens Djup" (working title) track listing: 01. Gryning 02. Sång 03. Korpens Saga 04. Nedgång 05. Ur Djupet 06. Slagbröder 07. En Mäktig Här 08. Ormhäxan 09. Maktens Spira 10. Under Två Runor 11. Kvällning
Dutch female-fronted symphonic metal band WITHIN TEMPTATION has provided music for the forthcoming werewolf film "Blood and Chocolate". Check out the trailer ' .
WITHIN TEMPTATION has finalized the track listing for its new album, "The Heart of Everything", due later in the year in the U.S. via Roadrunner Records. Check out the CD cover artwork at this location.
The 57-minute album's first single, to be released this spring, "What Have You Done", features a duet with Keith Caputo of LIFE OF AGONY. The band filmed the video for "What Have You Done" on December 13, 2006 at Koko in London.
WITHIN TEMPTATION recently spent time in a Stockholm studio mixing with Stefan Glaumann, known for his work with RAMMSTEIN.
"The Heart of Everything" track listing: 01. The Howling 02. What Have You Done (feat. Keith Caputo) 03. Frozen 04. The Heart of Everything 05. All I Need 06. Our Solemn Hour 07. Hand of Sorrow 08. The Cross 09. Final Destination 10. Forgiven 11. The Truth Beneath the Rose 12. Stand My Ground *
* The album's U.S. version will contain "Stand My Ground" from the band's "The Silent Force" album, which is featured on the "Blood and Chocolate" soundtrack.
"MTV Unplugged: Korn", which was recorded December 9, 2006 at MTV's Times Square (New York City) studios, will air online February 10 and on TV February 17, according to MTV.com. The "Unplugged" CD will be released on February 20 in the U.S. The first single off the CD will be "Freak on a Leash", featuring EVANESCENCE singer Amy Lee.
KORN "Unplugged" track listing: 01. Thoughtless 02. Blind 03. Hollow Life 04. Freak On A Leash (feat. Amy Lee) 05. Falling Away 06. Creep (RADIOHEAD cover) 07. Love Song 08. Got The Life 09. Twisted Transistor 10. Dirty 11. Coming Undone 12. Make Me Bad/In Between Days (feat. Robert Smith of THE CURE) 13. No One's There 14. Throw Me Away
As previously reported, MEGADETH's new song, "Gears of War", is available for download ' . The track comes off the group's upcoming album, "United Abominations", tentatively due in March via Roadrunner Records.
Swiss hard rockers GOTTHARD entered the studio late last year with producers Leo Leoni and Ronald Prent (who worked with the band on their last effort, "Lipservice") to begin recording their new album, entitled "Domino Effect". An early summer release is expected.
In a recent interview with Spain's Laestadea.com, MASTERPLAN guitarist Roland Grapow has confirmed plans for a collaborative project with his ex-HELLOWEEN bandmates Michael Kiske (vocals) and Kai Hansen (guitar, vocals). An excerpt from the chat follows:
01. Superior Existence
Legendary German progressive thrash outfit MEKONG DELTA has set "Lurking Fear" as the title of its upcoming "comeback" album, tentatively due later in the year. Working songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Rules of Corruption", "Society of Fear", "Ratters", "Shadow of Truth" and "Immortal Hate".
The tracklist of "Pins & Needles" will be as follows: 
According to the web site of the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, CRIMSON GLORY frontman John Patrick Jr. "Midnight" McDonald was arrested last Saturday night, January 20 in Sarasota, Florida and charged with "DUI [driving under the influence] with .20 [blood-alcohol level] or higher or having a passenger under 18" years of age. He was also cited for driving with a suspended/cancelled/revoked license. Bond for the 44-year-old vocalist — who gave his occupation as "painter" to the authorities at the time of the arrest — was set at $1,500. He is scheduled to be arraigned on February 8.
"Slavior" track listing:
"The Origins of Ruin" track listing:
"A New Disease Is Born" track listing:
Long-running Italian metallers WHITE SKULL have finally confirmed that they have parted ways with singer Gus Gabarrò (as BLABBERMOUTH.NET first reported on Oct. 19, 2006). Replacing Gabarrò in the group's current lineup is female vocalist Elisa "Over" De Palma.
"Victory Songs" track listing:
01. Gryning
"The Heart of Everything" track listing:
KORN "Unplugged" track listing: