Dutch symphonic metallers EPICA will take part in a special concert dubbed "Classical Conspiracy" on June 14 at the Miskolc International Opera Festival in Hungary. The band will perform classical pieces from Mozart, Dvorak, Verdi, Orff, Prokofiev, Grieg, Vivaldi as well as symphonic versions of its own songs.
EPICA celebrated the five-year anniversary of the release of its debut album, "The Phantom Agony", by performing the CD in its entirety on May 16 at Tivoli in Utrecht, The Netherlands. After the regular set, EPICA returned for a four-song encore: "Veniality", "Sancta Terra", "Fools of Damnation" and "Consign to Oblivion".
Commented the band: "The shows we did the last two weekends were amazing. Almost every one of them was sold out. It was great to be rocking the stage with Simone [vocals] again and we are looking forward to the upcoming shows a lot!
"At the moment we are working very hard to complete the preparations for the Classical Conspiracy show. As posted earlier, the choir and the orchestra have started their rehearsals as well."
Kscope has set an August 25 release date for the new semi-acoustic album from ANATHEMA entitled "Hindsight". The LP will be available to download from August 18.
"Hindsight" features old and new favourites from the band's career, with new arrangements utilizing acoustic, electrical and orchestral instruments to construct the deep, emotional landscapes ANATHEMA have become renowned for.
This album will also feature the beautiful cello playing of Dave Wesling from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. A close friend of the band, Dave previously toured with the band in 2004 and is featured on the DVD "A Moment In Time". The record has been arranged, recorded, performed and produced solely by the band.
"Hindsight" track listing: 01. Fragile Dreams 02. Leave No Trace 03. Inner Silence 04. One Last Goodbye 05. Are You There? 06. Angelica 07. A Natural Disaster 08. Temporary Peace 09. Flying 10. Unchained (Tales Of The Unexpected)
A video trailer for "Holographic Universe", the third CD from Swedish metallers SCAR SYMMETRY, can be viewed ' . A track from the CD, "Morphogenesis", can be heard on the band's ' .
Due on June 20 via Nuclear Blast Records, "Holographic Universe" will feature the following track listing:
01. Morphogenesis (3:54) 02. Timewave Zero (5:13) 03. Quantumleaper (4:09) 04. Artificial Sun Projection (4:00) 05. The Missing Coordinates (4:37) 06. Ghost Prototype I (Measurement of Thought) (4:35) 07. Fear Catalyst (5:03) 08. Trapezoid (4:17) 09. Prism and Gate (3:46) 10. Holographic Universe (9:05) 11. The Three-Dimensional Shadow (3:57) 12. Ghost Prototype II (Deus Ex Machina) (6:03)
Norwegian black metal pioneers DARKTHRONE will release a three-CD box set entitled "Frostland Tapes" on June 23 via Peaceville Records.
For the past 21 years, DARKTHRONE has been one of the leaders of the black metal scene. To coincide with this anniversary, Peaceville Records will release "Frostland Tapes", a fascinating trip into the earliest years of the band and the first official release ever to contain all four of DARKTHRONE's demos in one place. "Frostland Tapes" also includes a rare live recording from Denmark in 1990 (one of only a handful of live appearances that DARKTHRONE has ever made) and, perhaps most significantly, the previously unreleased version of the infamous 1991 "Goatlord" rehearsal session. These songs were intended to feature on the proposed second album before the band changed direction and the tapes were confined to the vaults. Vocals were subsequently added in the mid-Nineties, but they are presented here as the recording sounded in 1991 — instrumental genius, showing the complexity and intricacy of a band with a great future ahead of them. The set comes in a rigid digibook featuring an interview with the band, chronicling their early days, ambitions and inspirations.
Disc 1:
"Land Of Frost" Demo (1988)
01. Land of Frost 02. Winds of Triton 03. Forest of Darkness 04. Odyssey of Freedom 05. Day of the Dead
"A New Dimension" Demo (1988)
06. Intro: Twilight Dimension 07. Snowfall
"Thulcandra" Demo (1989)
08. Eon 09. Thulcandra 10. Archipelago Extra track: "Soria Moria"
Disc 2:
"Cromlech" Demo (1989)
01. The Watchtower 02. Accumulation of Generalization 03. Sempiternal Past/Presence View Sepulchrality 04. Iconoclasm Sweeps Cappadocia
Live From Denmark 1990:
05. Cromlech 06. Sunrise over Locus Mortis 07. Soulside Journey 08. Accumulation of Generalization 09. Sempiternal Past/Presence View Sepulchrality 10. Iconoclasm Sweeps Cappadocia 11. Neptune Towers
Disc 3:
"Goatlord" – Rare Instrumental Version (1991)
01. Rex 02. Pure Demoniac Blessing 03. (The) Grimness of which Shepherds Mourn 04. Sadomasochistic Rites 05. As Desertshadows 06. In his Lovely Kingdom 07. Black Daimon 08. Toward(s) the Thornfields 09. (Birth of Evil) Virgin Sin 10. Green Cave Float 11. A Blaze In The Northern Sky 12. Fenriz Drum Solo
Los Angeles tharshers SLAYER have issued the following update:
"Due to production reasons, we need to postpone our show in Moscow this summer from June 25th to November 29th. All tickets for the June 25th show are valid for entry on the rescheduled November 29th date."
Upcoming SLAYER shows:
Jun. 20 - Kobetasonik - Bilbao, Spain Jun. 22 - Hellfest - Le Mans, France Jun. 24 - Tasmajdan Arena - Belgrade, Serbia Jun. 27 - Bratislava - Tropfest, Slovakia Jun. 28 - Gods of Metal - Bologna Parco Nord, Italy Jun. 29 - Tuska - Helsinki, Finland Jul. 01 - Tallinn Exhibition Hall - Tallinn, Estonia Jul. 03 - Arvika - Arvika, Sweden Jul. 04 - Werchter Rock Festival - Werchter, Belgium Jul. 05 - Waldrock - Waldrock, Holland Jul. 06 - Roskilde - Roskilde, Denmark Jul. 09 - Super Bock Super Rock - Lisbon, Portugal Jul. 11 - La Plata - Merida, Spain Jul. 12 - Metalway Festival - Zaragoza, Spain Nov. 29 - B1 Club - Moscow, Russia
Brazilian death metal veterans KRISIUN will release their new album, "Southern Storm", in Europe on July 21 via Century Media Records. The CD was once again recorded at Stage One Studios in Borgentreich, Germany with producer Andy Classen (TANKARD, ROTTING CHRIST, DEW-SCENTED), who previously worked with the group on 1999's "Conquerors Of Armageddon" and 2006's "AssassiNation". According to a press release, the CD "offers everything the band's rabid fan base loves since day one: ferocious high-speed blasting, infectious double bass-driven grooves, razor-sharp riffs, devastating leads and a unique feel for combining catchiness with technicality. Tracks like the massive opener 'Slaying Steel', 'Combustion Inferno' or the band's rendition of the SEPULTURA classic 'Refuse/Resist' are nothing but crushing death metal hits!"
"Southern Storm" track listing: 01. Slaying Steel (4:11) 02. Sentenced Morning (3:59) 03. Twisting Sights (4:05) 04. Minotaur (3:51) 05. Combustion Inferno (4:23) 06. Massacre Under The Sun (4:43) 07. Bleeding Offers (3:24) 08. Refuse / Resist (SEPULTURA cover) (3:00) 09. Origin Of Terror (4:05) 10. Contradictions Of Decay (4:08) 11. Sons Of Pest (4:47) 12. Black Wind (0:48) 13. Whore Of The Unlight (4:23)
Swedish black metallers MARDUK have been confirmed for VADER's 25-year anniversary gig, scheduled for August 30 at Stodola Club in Warsaw, Poland. Meanwhile, Brazil's KRISUN has been forced to cancel its participation in the event due to "some technical issues," according to a posting on VADER's web site.
The billing for the show is as follows:
DISMEMBER ENTOMBED GOREFEST GRAVE MARDUK NILE ROTTING CHRIST SAMAEL SEPTICFLESH VADER
VADER will play a two-hour-plus set, featuring songs from old demo tapes as well as the more popular tracks from the group's recent studio albums. The show will be filmed for an anniversary DVD, tentivately titled "XXV" (to be released in 2009). The band will prepare not only a special live set, but also a special stage design and other surprises.
Swedish dark, melodic metal act EVERGREY has unveiled the cover artwork and track listing for its new album, "Torn", which will arrive at the stores at the beginning of September via the band's new label, Steamhammer/SPV.
"Torn" track listing: 01. Broken Wings 02. Soaked 03. Fear 04. When Kingdoms Fall 05. In Confidence 06. Fail 07. Numb 08. Torn 09. Nothing Is Erased 10. Still Walk Alone 11. These Scars
THE GATHERING have posted an update on their official website's forum about the new material they are currently working on. "Dear all, Sorry it has been a while since you've heard from us. We apologize for this. It actually means that we have been really busy with the band. During the last couple of months we created a lot of new ideas that lead to the first songs of our upcoming CD. Yes, we are working on a new album! Or actually, two new albums! Many of our new songs are very rock and guitar orientated and will end up on a heavy rock album for sure. The second album will be filled with more 'shoe gaze', dreamy tracks.
We can imagine if you are very curious about new vocalists. Currently, we are working with several. It feels very refreshing and interesting to work with different voices and it adds beautiful new colours to our music. Names will be presented as soon as our ideas become more concrete. As promised you will hear new material by the end of this year. The release of our new album is planned for Spring 2009.
Blaze Bayley (IRON MAIDEN, WOLFSBANE) has finished mixing and mastering his new solo album, "The Man Who Would Not Die", with former WOLFSBANE guitarist Jase Edwards at Jase's studio in Tamworth, Staffordshire, England. Due on July 7 via the singer's own independent label (with additional licensing to various countries), the CD was engineered by James Dunkley, produced by Blaze Bayley and it promises to take Blaze in new songwriting directions, ushering in a new phase of an already renowned career. It is also the first recorded showcase for Blaze's new lineup.
"The Man Who Would Not Die" track listing: 01. The Man Who Would Not Die 02. Blackmailer 03. Smile Back At Death 04. While You Were Gone 05. Samurai 06. A Crack In The System 07. Robot 08. At The End Of The Day 09. Waiting For My Life To Begin 10. Voices From The Past 11. The Truth Is One 12. Serpent Hearted Man
Finnish doom metal band REVEREND BIZARRE will have its 2005 classic album "Crush the Insects" re-released in the UK on August 4 via Spinefarm. The UK reissue comes complete with a slipcase plus an enhanced section featuring the video for "Doom over the World".
Finnish metallers KALMAH will release their fifth studio album, "For The Revolution", in the UK on July 14 via Spinefarm.
For the UK version of "Revolution", selected bonus audio/visual content has been added to the mix, along with a slipcase bearing exclusive new artwork. The bonus audio track is a cover of SEPULTURA's "Arise", while on the visual side, "The Groan Of Wind" (a song from 2006's "Black Waltz") has also been included as an enhanced video.
Former STRATOVARIUS mainman Timo Tolkki has posted another song from his new band, REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE, on the group's MySpace page. Check out the track "I Did It My Way" at this location.
REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE's current lineup also includes Brazilian drummer Bruno Agra and keyboardist Mike Khalilov.
The band's debut album, "New Era", will be released on June 6 via Frontiers Records. According to a press release, the CD "is a masterpiece of melodic power metal, taking the listener straight back to the 'Visions'-era STRATOVARIUS. In fact, 'New Era' is the album that was meant to be the next STRATOVARIUS album.
"Timo called a few friends for the recording sessions and the album features all the lead vocals from such legends as Michael Kiske [HELLOWEEN] and Tobias Sammet [EDGUY, AVANTASIA], along with Timo's blistering lead guitar lines and melodic power metal anthems that made him one of the pioneers of the style and trademark performers of the style. REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE witnesses a rebirth, a new era for Timo Tolkki and his music."
Other musicians that reportedly appear on "New Era" include Pasi Rantanen (vocals; THUNDERSTONE), Mirka Rantanen (drums; THUNDERSTONE) and Pasi Heikkilä (bass; 45 DEGREE WOMAN).
"Revolution Renaissance" track listing: 01. Heroes (Sammet) 02. I Did It My Way (Kiske) 03. We Are Magic (Rantanen) 04. Angel (Kiske) 05. Eden Is Burning (Rantanen) 06. Glorious And Divine (Sammet) 07. Born Upon The Cross (Rantanen) 08. Keep The Flame Alive (Kiske) 09. Last Night On Earth (Kiske) 10. Revolution Renaissance (Kiske)
"Hindsight" track listing:
01. Morphogenesis (3:54)
Norwegian black metal pioneers DARKTHRONE will release a three-CD box set entitled "Frostland Tapes" on June 23 via Peaceville Records. 
It will be after the show in Apelsin club on may 25th. Please take only official band production.
Los Angeles tharshers SLAYER have issued the following update: 
Swedish black metallers MARDUK have been confirmed for VADER's 25-year anniversary gig, scheduled for August 30 at Stodola Club in Warsaw, Poland. Meanwhile, Brazil's KRISUN has been forced to cancel its participation in the event due to "some technical issues," according to a posting on VADER's web site.
"Torn" track listing:
THE GATHERING have posted an update on their official website's forum about the new material they are currently working on. "Dear all, Sorry it has been a while since you've heard from us. We apologize for this. It actually means that we have been really busy with the band. During the last couple of months we created a lot of new ideas that lead to the first songs of our upcoming CD. Yes, we are working on a new album! Or actually, two new albums! Many of our new songs are very rock and guitar orientated and will end up on a heavy rock album for sure. The second album will be filled with more 'shoe gaze', dreamy tracks.
"The Man Who Would Not Die" track listing:
Finnish doom metal band REVEREND BIZARRE will have its 2005 classic album "Crush the Insects" re-released in the UK on August 4 via Spinefarm. The UK reissue comes complete with a slipcase plus an enhanced section featuring the video for "Doom over the World".
Finnish metallers KALMAH will release their fifth studio album, "For The Revolution", in the UK on July 14 via Spinefarm. 
"Revolution Renaissance" track listing: