The artwork and tracklisting for the upcoming album from Norway's classical/progressive metal supergroup WINDS, titled "Prominence and Demise" (out September 4, 2007 on The End Records), has been revealed.
The CD artwork and layout was created by renowned cover artist Travis Smith (OPETH, AMORPHIS, DEVIN TOWNSEND), who has collaborated with WINDS on all of their artwork since their first full-length album.
"Prominence and Demise" track listing: 01. Universal Creation Array 02. Distorted Dimensions 03. The Grand Design 04. When the Dream of Paradise Died 05. Fall and Rise 06. The Darkest Path 07. Convictions and Contradictions 08. Where the Cold Winds Blow 09. The Last Line
LUCYFIRE, the side project of TIAMAT mastermind Johan Edlund, earlier in the year completed work on a new demo with producer and TIAMAT drummer Lars Sköld. According to Edlund,"we have plenty of songs," but the CD that wassent out to prospective labels contained the following four cuts:
01. Thunder & Lightning 02. All the Children Sing 03. Codeine 04. Black Gold
A demo version of "All the Children Sing" has been posted online at ' .
The organizers of the ProgPower USA VIII festival, which is scheduled for October 5-6 at Atlanta's Center Stage, have announced the details of a special "mystery" show, to be held Wednesday night (October 3) in Vinyl's (a.k.a. the Vendor's Room) with karaoke to follow afterwards.
Commented promoter Glenn Harveston: "I'm very proud to announce that for the first time ever in his illustrious career, Jon Oliva [SAVATAGE, JON OLIVA'S PAIN] will take the stage and perform an intimate one-man acoustic show. In addition to performing his biggest hits and favorite songs, the Mountain King will be telling the history behind each song along with sharing stories from the road. If you have seen any of the VH1 'Storytellers' episodes, you know just how special and unique this show is going to be."
All 200 tickets for the show reportedly sold out within five minutes of the announcement.
Check out the complete ProgPower USA VIII lineup at this location.
Norwegian metallers NOCTURNAL BREED have finalized the track listing for their new album "Fields of Rot", due on July 3 via Agonia Records. The cover art for "Fields of Rot" was created specifically for this release by Norwegian artist Kjetil Nystuen, who is an art director in the gaming industry. The PS2 first-person shooter game Killzone is among his credits. Other songtitles set to appear on the album include "Iron Bitch" and "Invasion of the Bodythrashers".
"Fields of Rot" final track listing: 01. Wicked, Vicious & Violent (4:11) 02. Fields of Rot (2:53) 03. Too Damned To Conquer (2:50) 04. Manskinner (3:01) 05. In Sickness and in Hell (4:17) 06. Invasion of the Body-Thrashers (3:26) 07. Iron Bitch (3:14) 08. Code of Conduct (2:19) 09. The Dead (3:14) 10. Scything Harrow (3:05)
NOCTURNAL BREED recently posted two more songs from "Fields of Rot" on the band's ' page.
An Italian DARK TRANQUILLITY fan, Ercorea, has uploaded a ten-minute piano medley featuring themes from various songs of the "The Mind's I" album. Check it out ' .
Progressive metal masters SIEGES EVEN have revealed the cover artwork fortheir new album, entitled "Paramount", due in September via Inside Out Music. The photo was taken by British artist David J. Nightingale, while Thomas Ewerhard was responsible for the actual cover design.
"Paramount" track listing (not final sequence): 01. When Alpha And Omega Collide 02. Bridge To The Divine 03. Paramount 04. Mounting Castles in The Blood Red Sky (instrumental) 05. Where Our Shadows Sleep 06. Leftovers 07. Iconic 08. Tidal 09. A Wallflower On The Day Of Saint Juliana 10. A Dream In Monochrome 11. Duende
SIEGES EVEN's current lineup consists of Arno Menses (vocals), Oliver Holzwarth (bass), Markus Steffen (guitars) and Alex Holzwarth (drums, RHAPSODY).
Finnish/Swedish symphonic metal band NIGHTWISH has set "Dark Passion Play" as the title of its new album, due on September 28 via Nuclear Blast Records (most of Europe), September 26 via Spinefarm Records/Universal (Finland) and September 28 via Roadrunner Records (USA). The track listing for the effort is as follows:
01. The Poet And The Pendulum 02. Bye Bye Beautiful 03. Amaranth 04. Cadence Of Her Last Breath 05. Master Passion Greed 06. Eva 07. Sahara 08. Whoever Brings The Night 09. For The Heart I Once Had 10. The Islander 11. Last Of The Wilds 12. 7 Days To The Wolves 13. Meadows Of Heaven
A single, "Amaranth", will precede the album on August 24 (Nuclear Blast) and August 22 (Spinefarm/Universal). It will be available in several different versions, the details of which will be announced later.
Dutch female-fronted symphonic metal band EPICA has revealed the cover artwork for its new album, "The Divine Conspiracy", due in Europe on September 10 via Nuclear Blast Records (September 7 in Germany). Check it out at this location.
"The Divine Conspiracy", which was mixed by Sascha Paeth, features a session appearance by GOD DETHRONED drummer Ariën van Weesenbeek. EPICA has yet to name a full-time drummer following the departure of Jeroen Simons in 2006.
"The Divine Conspiracy" final track listing: 01. Indigo - Prologue 02. The Obsessive Devotion 03. Menace of Vanity 04. Chasing the Dragon 05. Never Enough 06. La‘petach Chatat Rovetz - The Final Embrace 07. Death of a Dream - The Embrace that Smothers Part VII 08. Living a Lie - The Embrace that Smothers Part VIII 09. Fools of Damnation - The Embrace that Smothers Part IX 10. Beyond Belief 11. Safeguard to Paradise 12. Sancta Terra 13. The Divine Conspiracy
According to a posting on the band's web site, "The Divine Conspiracy" "will be EPICA's first full length concept album. This concept deals with the theory that, as a test, God created all kinds of different religions and released those upon humanity to see if they would be able to find the true nature of them, realizing that in all religions it is actually the same. But there's more to it; it also concludes the 'Embrace That Smothers' concept that could already be found on 'The Phantom Agony'"
SAVAGE CIRCUS, the German/Swedish band featuring former BLIND GUARDIAN drummer Thomen Stauch and PERSUADER members Jens Karlsson (vocals, guitar) and Emil Norberg (lead guitar), has commenced the songwriting process for its second album, tentatively due in October via Dockyard 1.
HELLOWEEN drummer Dani Löble has re-entered singer Andi Deris' Mi Sueno Studios in Tenerife, Spain to resume the recording sessions for the band's new album with longtime producer Charlie Bauerfeind (BLIND GUARDIAN, SAXON). Tentatively titled "Gambling with the Devil", HELLOWEEN's 12th studio LP is scheduled for release on Halloween (October 31). A world tour in support of the CD will start mid-November in Europe, to be followed by visits to Southeast Asia, North and South America in the first half of 2008.
Frontiers Records is pleased to announce all details for the release of DAVID READMAN’s self titled debut album on August 31st 2007 !
Best known as singer for PINK CREAM 69, David also appeared on album from Adagio and from studio projects such as Missa Mercuria and on the more recent Andersen / Laine / Readman cd.
After David left the French Power Metal outfit Adagio in 2005, he started to gather material for a solo album which has always been his ultimate dream. “I did a lot myself from writing the songs, to recording organizing the whole thing” says David, “Dennis Ward (David’s bandmate in PC69) recorded the drums over 2 sessions and also mixed the record. If I was to thank something it would be the Internet, strange I know but without it would have taken even longer. And I wouldn't have met all the great people who played on the record, especially Paul Logue (of Eden’s Course) who played bass and wrote 2 songs with me”.
David has worked hard on the songwriting. He explains: “There are a few songs that wouldn't have made it on a PC69 cd because of style, with this record I was able to experiment a little. When you work this way it becomes your baby, you’re making all the decisions. It’s not always easy to keep a song interesting from the start to the finish. So that was a lot of work, but that’s what I wanted”
Recording started already during 2006, but David needed a long break (for the recording of PC 69’s latest opus “In10sity”), so that resumed the work in February 2007 and finally delivered the album in the spring time.
“I am very happy with the record, it was a big deal for me a real learning-curve. I'm also interested to hear what the people have to say about it, I’m very inpatient”, concludes the Burnley-born british singer.
The line-up appearing on “David Readman” includes Paul Logue (Eden’s Curse) on bass, Dirk Bruinenberg (Elegy) and Chris Schmidt on drums, Eric Ragno (ex Takara) and Günter Werno (Vandenplas) on keyboards and Alex Beyrodt (Silent Force), Gerald Sänger, Tommy Denander and bandmate Uwe Reitenauer on guitars. David also plays guitars and keyboards.
Production duties are handled by Dennis Ward.
"David Readman" track-listing: 01. Without You ' 02. Evil Combination 03. Take These Tears ' 04. Don't Let It Slip Away ' 05. No Peace For The Wicked 06. Long Way To Heaven ' 07. Wild In The City 08. Gentle Touch 09. Prisoner Of Shame 10. New Messiah 11. Over The Ocean 12. Love In Vain 13. Don't Let It Slip Away* Don't Let It Slip Away (bonus multimedia video track which can be already watched on the Frontiers Records my space page: ' )
It's safe to say that fans of Pink Cream 69 and David Readman will not be disappointed with this record, who sets the style in Melodic Hard Rock, with soaring hooklines and in-your face guitars.
Don’t miss “David Readman” in all fine shops on August 31st 2007 on Frontiers Records with a release in Japan scheduled on King Records.
Dutch rock act THE GATHERING has launched a vocalist search following the recent departure of Anneke van Giersbergen. Interested male and female vocalists are invited to send a short bio and one or two MP3s to audition@gathering.nl.
Anneke van Giersbergen has announced the formation of a brand new band called AGUA DE ANNIQUE. The group will release an album called "Air" in the fall of 2007.
Anneke van Giersbergen's final appearance with THE GATHERING will take place on August 4 at the Ankkarock festival in Finland.
The cover artwork for AMORPHIS's upcoming album, "Silent Waters", has been posted online at this location. The CD was recorded at Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki, Finland. Mixing duties were handled by Mikko Karmila (NIGHTWISH, STRATOVARIUS) at Finnvox studios.
"Silent Waters" track listing: 01. Weaving The Incantation 02. A Servant 03. Silent Waters 04. Towards And Against 05. I Of Crimson Blood 06. Her Alone 07. Enigma 08. Shaman 09. The White Swan 10. Black River 11. Sign (bonus track on digipak)
The album will be released on August 29 (Finland)/August 31 (other countries).
California-based metallers AGENT STEEL have posted the cover artwork for their new album, "Alienigma", at this location (artwork by Dimitri Patelis).
Due in September via Mascot Records, "Alienigma" will feature the following track listing:
01. Fashioned From Dust 02. Wash The Planet Clean 03. Hail To The Chief 04. Wormwod 05. Liberty Lying Bleeding 06. Hybridized 07. Tiamats Fall 08. WPD 09. Lamb To The Slaughter 10. Extinct
Italian folk/power metal band ELVENKING will release their new album, "The Scythe", in Europe on September 14 via AFM Records. The CD was mixed at Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki, Finland. The mastering took place on April 10 at Finnvox Studios with Mika Jussila and Nino Laurenne.
"The Scythe" track listing: 01. The Scythe 02. Lost Hill of Memories 03. Infection 04. Poison Tears 05. A Riddle of Stars 06. Romance & Wrath 07. The Divided Heart 08. Horns Ablaze (digipack bonus track) 09. Totentanz 10. Death and the Suffering 11. Dominhate
FATES WARNING's classic 1988 album "No Exit" will be re-released in September via Metal Blade Records. The reissue will contain a remastered version of the original album plus the following bonus material:
Bonus audio tracks: * "Quietus" demo (singer Ray Alder's audition tape) * "The Ivory Gate of Dreams" outtake 1 (rehearsal recording) * "The Ivory Gate of Dreams" outtake 2 (rehearsal recording)
Bonus DVD: * Live and behind-the-scenes footage from "No Exit" tour (approx. one hour) * "Silent Cries" video * "Anarchy Divine" video * "Valley of the Dolls" live in Philadelphia 1988
Check out a teaser live video of "Silent Cries", taken from the upcoming "No Exit" bonus DVD, at YouTube.
Nearly ten years since X JAPAN's New Year's "farewell" concert and nine years after the death of the band's influential lead guitarist Hideto "Hide" Matsumoto, X JAPAN has officially reformed and is planning a new tour and single, tentatively due before the end of 2007.
According to an article in the Japanese newspaper Sponichi, X JAPAN founder Yoshiki summoned former vocalist Toshi to Los Angeles in November 2006 to work on a song that was written as a tribute to late guitarist Hide, entitled "Without You" (originally released instrumentally on Yoshiki's first album). After an emotional recording session, the two felt that "the puzzle pieces just fit," and decided to officially reunite the band.
Yoshiki is said to be in talks with guitarist Pata and bassist Heath regarding the reunion, with hopes to feature the band lineup circa the group's final performance. While nothing has been set in stone, the tentative touring lineup is expected to include Yoshiki, Toshi, Pata, Heath, and roughly 10 guest guitarists who will perform Hide's parts during various songs in the set.
Current information indicates that X JAPAN's tour will begin near Yoshiki's home of Los Angeles, with the Toshi-sung single release of "Without You" due sometime this year.
Regarding the reunion, Yoshiki stated, "After Hide's death most fans were split between two extreme opinions, either 'you reunite and I'll kill you' or 'if you don't reunite I'll die.' I had trouble making the decision and for a while I wasn't able to move forward. This reunion is actually a first for me as well."
Swedish singer Mats Levén (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, THERION, KRUX, TREAT, AT VANCE) has just finished laying down backing vocals for the new APOCALYPTICA album with producer Jacob Hellner (RAMMSTEIN).
Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT, STONE SOUR), Dave Lombardo (SLAYER), Tomoyasu Hotei (superstar Japanese composer, whose credits include the "Kill Bill" soundtrack), Joseph Duplantier (GOJIRA) and Cristina Scabbia (LACUNA COIL) are among the confirmed musicians who have recorded guest appearances on the upcoming APOCALYPTICA CD, tentatively due in September.
Finnish goth metallers H.I.M. have reportedly set September 4 as the new release date for their follow-up to 2005's "Dark Light", entitled "Venus Doom". The band's sixth studio CD was recorded at the Finnvox facility in Helsinki with producer Tim Palmer and was mixed in California.
H.I.M. frontman Ville Valo recently told MTV.com that "Venus Doom" is "going to be a lot heavier than anything we've done before — that's the whole idea. It's like we're mixing MY BLOODY VALENTINE's 'Loveless' with METALLICA's 'Master of Puppets'. ... There won't be as much ear candy on this one. There are a lot of riffs, and it's more guitar-oriented than keyboard-driven. Really, we just wanted to rock our own socks off.
"We wanted to make a really rockin' album — one that would explode your speakers," he added. "But we also wanted to maintain the melancholy aspects of love and loss in the lyrics and then have the really sweet vocals amidst this storm of guitars.
"Lyrically, it's about me losing a relationship and then actually regaining it, and losing my sanity and regaining it," Valo continued. "As you grow up, life gets more and more complex, even though when you're a kid you think things are going to get easier. It's like a f---ing puzzle that just keeps on having more and more pieces to it. It's very personal, this album. It's like me getting rid of my demons and putting the pain in the music. It's cathartic, and it's about cleansing yourself and trying to have the courage to take that one step further."
Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Dead Lovers Lane" ' , "The Kiss of Dawn", "Love in Cold Blood" and "Passion's Killing Floor".
Garden Of Exile Records will release "Hope", the latest album by Finnish doomsters SWALLOW THE SUN, as a double LP. The vinyl release will contain an AMORPHIS cover as a bonus track, featuring a guest appearance by AMORPHIS vocalist Tomi Joutsen. Says the label: "You can expect some nice-colored heavyweight vinyl in a deluxe gatefold cover."
"Prominence and Demise" track listing:
LUCYFIRE, the side project of TIAMAT mastermind Johan Edlund, earlier in the year completed work on a new demo with producer and TIAMAT drummer Lars Sköld. According to Edlund,"we have plenty of songs," but the CD that wassent out to prospective labels contained the following four cuts:
' . 
The organizers of the ProgPower USA VIII festival, which is scheduled for October 5-6 at Atlanta's Center Stage, have announced the details of a special "mystery" show, to be held Wednesday night (October 3) in Vinyl's (a.k.a. the Vendor's Room) with karaoke to follow afterwards.
"Fields of Rot" final track listing:
01. When Alpha And Omega Collide
01. The Poet And The Pendulum
A single, "Amaranth", will precede the album on August 24 (Nuclear Blast) and August 22 (Spinefarm/Universal). It will be available in several different versions, the details of which will be announced later.
"The Divine Conspiracy" final track listing:
HELLOWEEN drummer Dani Löble has re-entered singer Andi Deris' Mi Sueno Studios in Tenerife, Spain to resume the recording sessions for the band's new album with longtime producer Charlie Bauerfeind (BLIND GUARDIAN, SAXON). Tentatively titled "Gambling with the Devil", HELLOWEEN's 12th studio LP is scheduled for release on Halloween (October 31). A world tour in support of the CD will start mid-November in Europe, to be followed by visits to Southeast Asia, North and South America in the first half of 2008. 
"David Readman" track-listing:
Dutch rock act THE GATHERING has launched a vocalist search following the recent departure of Anneke van Giersbergen. Interested male and female vocalists are invited to send a short bio and one or two MP3s to audition@gathering.nl.
"Silent Waters" track listing:
01. Fashioned From Dust
"The Scythe" track listing:
FATES WARNING's classic 1988 album "No Exit" will be re-released in September via Metal Blade Records. The reissue will contain a remastered version of the original album plus the following bonus material:
Nearly ten years since X JAPAN's New Year's "farewell" concert and nine years after the death of the band's influential lead guitarist Hideto "Hide" Matsumoto, X JAPAN has officially reformed and is planning a new tour and single, tentatively due before the end of 2007. 
Swedish singer Mats Levén (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, THERION, KRUX, TREAT, AT VANCE) has just finished laying down backing vocals for the new APOCALYPTICA album with producer Jacob Hellner (RAMMSTEIN). 
Finnish goth metallers H.I.M. have reportedly set September 4 as the new release date for their follow-up to 2005's "Dark Light", entitled "Venus Doom". The band's sixth studio CD was recorded at the Finnvox facility in Helsinki with producer Tim Palmer and was mixed in California. 
Garden Of Exile Records will release "Hope", the latest album by Finnish doomsters SWALLOW THE SUN, as a double LP. The vinyl release will contain an AMORPHIS cover as a bonus track, featuring a guest appearance by AMORPHIS vocalist Tomi Joutsen. Says the label: "You can expect some nice-colored heavyweight vinyl in a deluxe gatefold cover."