Finnish melodic death/doom metallers SWALLOW THE SUN, who feature several members of FUNERIS NOCTURNUM, have entered Sam's Workshop with producer Sami Kokko to begin recording their debut album, due in November through Firebox Records. The as-yet-untitled effort will contain the following tracks: 1. Through Her Silvery Body 2. Deadly Nightshade 3. Out Of This Gloomy Light 4. Swallow 5. Hold This Woe 6. Silence Of The Womb 7. Under The Waves 8. The Morning Never Came
Swedish melodic death metallers WITHIN Y, who feature in their ranks former GARDENIAN drummer Thim Blom, have entered Gothenburg's Meta 4 studios to begin recording their debut album, "Extended Mental Dimensions", due in early 2004 through Hammerheart Records.
John O Fathaigh leaves CRUACHAN again. "Yes John has parted ways with us yet again and we wholeheartedly apologise to each and everyone of our fans for this ridiculous situation. His reasons for leaving are again "personal" and we are very unhappy that he wasted our time by coming back in the firstplace. We will find a replacement and we will continue to tour with a guest musician. What does not kill us only makes us stronger!" Keith Fay on behalf of CRUACHAN.
German melodic gothic metal band CREMATORY, who split up in 2001 after a successful, decade-long career, have officially reformed and are preparing to enter the studio to record a new studio album, tentatively titled "Revolution". The follow-up to 2000's "Believe" is scheduled for release on March 1, 2004 through Nuclear Blast Records.
Swedish thrashers THE CROWN have set an October 20 release date through Metal Blade Records for their new album, "Possessed 13". The self-produced effort, which was recorded at Gothenurg's Studio Fredman during May/June, will be released in a special limited-edition double-CD digipack, featuring a bonus CD that will contain the band's 1993 "Forever Heaven Gone" and 1994 "Forget The Light" demos, a cover of BATHORY's "Burnin' Leather", and a demo version of "Rebel Angel" (off 2000's "Deathrace King" CD). The complete track listing for the "deluxe" version of "Possessed 13" will be as follows: 01. No Tomorrow 02. Face Of Destruction/Deep Hit Of Death 03. Deliverance 04. Cold Is The Grave 05. Dream Bloody Hell (instrumental) 06. Morningstar Rising 07. Are You Morbid? 08. Bow To None 09. Kill 'Em All 10. Natashead Overdrive 11. Zombiefied 12. Dawn Of Emptiness 13. In Memoriam (instrumental)
Bonus CD:
01. Last Rite (the band's first "pro" recording from 1992)
"Forever Heaven Gone" demo (1993) 02. Seventh Gate 03. Deadspawn 04. Diachronic Damnation 05. The Lord Of The Rings 06. Beyond Where Darkness Dwells 07. Forever Heaven Gone
DANZIG will be heading into the studio in a few weeks to begin recording their new album, tentatively due in late 2003/early 2004 through Spitfire Records. As previously reported, DANZIG's lineup for the next CD will be as follows: Glenn Danzig – vocals Tommy Victor (PRONG) – guitar Bevan Davies (COMES WITH THE FALL) – drums Jerry Montano (ex-THE DEADLIGHTS) – bass DANZIG will play several headlining shows in September, to be followed by the "Blackest of The Black" tour in October, also featuring SUPERJOINT RITUAL and DEVILDRIVER. In other news, the band's DVD, "Archive De La Morte", may include an as-yet-undisclosed extra track when it receives a European release later in the year.
Canada's EIDOLON have completed their latest slab of molten metal, "Apostles Of Defiance", due on October 6 through Metal Blade Records. Tracklist: 1. Scream From Within 2. Volcanic Earth 3. Twisted Morality 4. Demoralized 5. The Test 6. The Will To Remain 7. Apostles Of Defiance 8. Pull The Trigger 9. Apathy For A Dying World
Vocalist Jape decided to end his career in TO/DIE/FOR. He told that he had no more motivation to go on with the band. Band wish him good luck in whatever he is going to do and thanks for great times with the band. Now group is looking for a new singer who can fill the huge hole which Jape left.
LAKE OF TEARS are going to start again! According to the official site of the band: "I, Mikael and Johan have discussed playing together again and we will probably try it out in next week (if we can get our things together). It's been like four years so it will be really interesting. Anyway, if the feeling is there again (I think it may be, now when Black Mark is gone and all) ... there may be a record out next year (and hopefully some shows). Let's see ..." (Daniel Brennare)
Russian, Perm-based melodic death/black group ACT OF GOD started the recordings of their second album. Work name is "They Beside". It will include 8-9 tracks plus MAYHEM's cover song "Freezing Moon". Band plans to finish whole work till winter comes.
Finland's THROES OF DAWN are set to enter Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki on August 17 for five days to record the drums and bass for their fourth full-length album. According to the band's official web site, "10 new brilliant songs will be recorded in three parts," with guitars and synths scheduled to be tracked between September 30 and October 7, and the vocals and the mix due to be completed between November 5 and November 11. An early 2004 release through Avantgarde/Wounded Love Records is expected. In other news, THROES OF DAWN recently acquired three new members: Juha Ylikoski (guitar, ex-ROTTEN SOUND), Harri Huhtala (bass, ex-CARTILAGE, ex-VOMITURITION), and Jani Martikkala (drums, BLACK DAWN, ex-...AND OCEANS, ex-ENOCHIAN CRESCENT).
Some news from Oupiric Prouctions. * A new album of cruel Ukrainian sympho black metallers CAPITOLLIUM is soon to be upon you. Entitled as "Symphony of Possession" this cassette release is less raw than its preceedor "Undivine Antipathy", but more melodic and atmospheric. And it's still blasphemous as Hell! You are warned! * The first CD release of Oupiric Productions is being prepared - vamperotic sympho black metal insanity called "Blood, Desire And Dead Nenuphars" by Russian BLACK COUNTESS. * From the very depths of Hell come the Black Trinity of true and evil Black Metal cassette releases on OUPIRIC Productions. Scheduled on Autumn these pieces of Supreme blasphemy will make the christians tremble with fear. Here they are: BESTIAL (Rus) "Satanic Metal" MC MISANTHROPIC ART (Rus) "Possessed by Bestiality" MC SAMHAIN (Rus) "Saligia" MC And much more satanic spawn to follow soon! * A new OUPIRIC mailorder catalogue METAL V MASSY! will be printed in Autumn with a lot of updates and interviews. Watch out! OUPIRIC PRODUCTIONS CONTACTS c/o Michael Nickolayev, PO Box 340, Kaluga-02, 248002 RUSSIA E-mail:
New album "Somni Regnum" is ready! It's not known yet, when it will be in stores. In Europe "Somni Regnum" will release Xtreem Music (ex-Repulse), which also piblished last ROSSOMAHAAR's album "Quaerite Lux In Tenebris" for not-CIS states. Also ROSSOMAHAAR released recently their first live album "Live And Die In Moscow" through Sound Age.
HATE ETERNAL bassist/vocalist Jared Anderson has left the band in order to commit himself to rehabilitation for a drug problem. The following is Anderson's official statement on the matter: "Due to a continuous ongoing drug problem for the last couple of years, I've committed myself to rehabilitation. I will be leaving HATE ETERNAL due to the time and dedication it's taking to get myself back on the right track. It's a very unfortunate situation, which must be dealt with, and out of total respect for my bandmates, it's the right thing to do for I cannot be responsible for holding the band back. HATE ETERNAL has been one of the greatest things in my life for 5 years and now it must end due to my personal issues. I want to apologize to all the fans and my bandmates as well. But I can simply say that I will get well and I will be back somewhere in this scene. I wish the band all the luck in the world and thank you for the great 5 years. Blessed be and may the hatred be eternal!" The rest of the band issued a separate statement offering their support to Anderson. "Jared, being our bandmate as well as one of our best friends, we wish him the best with his recovery and his health and he will always be a part of what HATE ETERNAL was and is, we will miss him!" Randy Piro will be taking over on bass/backing vocals.
DIMMU BORGIR will finish their new video this week. Here you can see a cut from interview Silenoz for The MetalList Portal: Scorpio: When will you make normal videoclip? The only - "Mourning Palace" is er... shit. Silenoz: Yep, I totally agree. But I must also say, that we didn't it. It was sourcing by the label, we even didn't know it comes to produce. This time we shoot another video with a company from Sweden. And the video will be finished next week. Its gonna be looking really killer, and yeah, it's a very professional video. Scorpio: Can you tell what will we see? Silenoz: It's what you get lay out for the album. You will see its connection with the video. It's gonna look extremally good and we gonna use it for promotional first, then it also will be included on the additions of the album in 5.1 Surround mix. Read full interview on our site this week!
Former JUDAS PRIEST frontman Tim "Ripper" Owens has officially joined ICED EARTH. Owens, who left JUDAS PRIEST due to Halford's return, has already finished laying down vocals to the group's new album, "The Glorious Burden", which will be release this fall through SPV/Steamhammer Records.
Britain's SKYCLAD are a last-minute addition to the Hawkfest, a three-day event set to take place August 8-10 near Preston. SKYCLAD will be hitting the stage on Sunday, August 10 at approximately 4:30 p.m. Other bands set to appear at the festival include THE LEVELLERS, HAWKWIND, SPACEHEAD, TRIBE OF CRO, MR QUIMBY'S BEARD, LITMUS and PXR1. In other news, SKYCLAD's successful 2.5-hour headlining gig at the Dong Open Air on July 19 included four songs from the band's upcoming album, "A Semblance of Normality". The group's complete setlist for the Dong show was as follows: 1. Penny Dreadful 2. Spinning Jenny 3. The Widdershins Jig 4. The Cry Of The Land 5. The Disenchanted Forrest 6. Great Blow For A Day Job 7. Survival Campaign (new) 8. No Deposit, No Return 9. Anotherdrinkingsong (new) 10. The Parliament Of Fools (new) 11. Earth Mother, The Sun And The Furious Host 12. A Well Beside The River 13. Inequalitey Street 14. Anti-Body Politic 15. Another Fine Mess 16. Mr. Malaprope (new) 17. Think Back And Lie Of England 18. Thinking Allowed 19. Swords Of A Thousand Men 20. Emerald 21. If I Die Laughing 22. Penny Dreadful 23. Spinning Jenny 24. History Lessens 25. Polkageist
METALLICA's Robert Trujillo will make a guest appearance in a new video for NICKEL CREEK's instrumental track "Smoothie Song". Bassist, who sat in on the acoustic pop-country act's video shoot Wednesday (July 30) in New York, reportedly plays a stand-up bass in the clip. METALLICA and NICKEL CREEK share the same management company — New York-based Q Prime Management.
Even though METALLICA's battle with Napster is fading into the past, critics of the band still hang on to it. Just last week, someone started an Internet hoax story — that METALLICA had copyrighted the chords D and F and would sue anyone who used them in a song. Guitarist/singer James Hetfield laughs uncontrollably when told of the story. "That's so awesome," he finally gasps. "I find that extremely funny."
The reformed FEAR FACTORY — now consisting of Christian Olde Wolbers (guitar/bass), Raymond Herrera (drums), and Burton C. Bell (vocals) — are strongly rumored to be on the verge of signing a new record deal with the Los Angeles-based D3 Entertainment (INSANE CLOWN POSSE, OL' DIRTY BASTARD). The group are expected to enter the studio in late summer/early fall to begin recording the follow-up to 2001's "Digimortal", tentatively due in early 2004. Among the tracks set to appear on the as-yet-untitled effort are "Slave Labor", "Corporate Cloning", "Archetype", and "Bite The Hand That Feeds".
Swedish "gothic metal" act BESEECH have set "Drama" as the title for their fourth full-length album, tentatively due in early 2004 through Napalm Records. BESEECH have spent the past few weeks at Studio Mega recording the follow-up to 2002's "Souls Highway", the group's first effort since the departure of longtime guitarist Klas Bohlin. According to guitarist Robert Spanglund, "some outside persons that visited the studio and heard some songs in the studio think the new material [is] comparable to/[a] combination of bands such as H.I.M., EVANECESCENCE, TYPE O NEGATIVE, MARILYN MANSON and ALANIS MORISETTE." Among the tracks set to appear on the album are the following: 1. Forever Falling 2. Bitch 3. Drama 4. Higher Level 5. Sunset 28 * 6. Come On In * "ambient, softer version" of the track that previously appeared on "Souls Highway"
ALCHEMIST taked their new video - for the song "First Contact". The video, from the band's highly-received new album "Austral Alien", was directed by ALCHEMIST drummer Rodney Holder and features stunning scenes incorporating Sci-Fi elements that depict alien abduction.
MAYHEM's classic "Wolf's Lair Abyss" CD will be reissued through Candlelight USA on October 14. The recording continues the label's classic reissue series — adding to earlier reissues by ARCTURUS, FLEURETY and VED BUENS ENDE. MAYHEM will be entering a mobile studio in the mountains of Norway in the fall to record their new album, "Chimera". They will also be accompanied by their technician for this recording, Borge Finstad. The follow-up to 2000's "Grand Declaration Of War" will include such titles as "Rape Humanity With Pride", "Chimera", "Dark Night Of The Soul" and "Deathwhore". An early 2004 release through Season Of Mist Records is expected.
Polish death metallers VADER will issue a new mini-CD, titled "Blood", on September 22 — a month earlier than the originally announced October 20 release date. The seven-song effort will contain two new songs, "We Wait" and "Shape-shifting", which were recorded over a one-week period beginning on July 10 at Red Studio with engineer Piotr Lukaszewski ("Reign Forever World", "Revelations"). Also included on the CD will be a few rare cuts from "Revelations" recording sessions: "As The Fallen Rise" (taken from Japanese version of "Revelations"), "Angel Of Death" (Japanese version of the album and EP released in Poland exclusively), "When Darkness Calls" (Polish EP version), "Son Of Fire" (European digi-pack version), and "Traveler" (Polish digi-pack version). The complete track listing for the EP is as follows: 1. Shape-Shifting 2. We Wait 3. Son Of Fire 4. As The Fallen Rise 5. Traveler 6. When Darkness Calls 7. Angel Of Death (THIN LIZZY cover)
QUEENSRYCHE's current tour finds them co-headlining with math-metal cult band DREAM THEATER — a smart consolidation of two bands with similar leanings. "Our music styles complement each other really well," QUEENSRYCHE guitarist Michael Wilton told "I know a lot of tours have been suffering, but this one is really kicking ass."
Finnish melodic power metallers STRATOVARIUS have finalized the track listing for their new album, "Elements Part 2", due on October 27 through Nuclear Blast Records. The album, which will once again feature artwork by Derek Riggs, will contain the following songs: 1. Alpha & Omega 2. I Walk To My Own Song 3. I'm Still Alive 4. Season Of Faith's Perfection 5. Awaken The Giant 6. Know The Difference 7. Luminous 8. Dreamweaver 9. Liberty 10. Ride Like The Wind (Japanese bonus) "Elements Part 2" was produced by guitarist Timo Tolkki and mixed by Mikko Karmila at Finnvox Studios. All music and words for the album were written by Timo Tolkki, except for "Ride Like The Wind", which was penned by keyboardist Jens Johansson. You can view the artwork for the album
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Finnish melodic death/doom metallers SWALLOW THE SUN, who feature several members of FUNERIS NOCTURNUM, have entered Sam's Workshop with producer Sami Kokko to begin recording their debut album, due in November through Firebox Records. 
Swedish melodic death metallers WITHIN Y, who feature in their ranks former GARDENIAN drummer Thim Blom, have entered Gothenburg's Meta 4 studios to begin recording their debut album, "Extended Mental Dimensions", due in early 2004 through Hammerheart Records.
John O Fathaigh leaves CRUACHAN again.
German melodic gothic metal band CREMATORY, who split up in 2001 after a successful, decade-long career, have officially reformed and are preparing to enter the studio to record a new studio album, tentatively titled "Revolution". The follow-up to 2000's "Believe" is scheduled for release on March 1, 2004 through Nuclear Blast Records.
Swedish thrashers THE CROWN have set an October 20 release date through Metal Blade Records for their new album, "Possessed 13". The self-produced effort, which was recorded at Gothenurg's Studio Fredman during May/June, will be released in a special limited-edition double-CD digipack, featuring a bonus CD that will contain the band's 1993 "Forever Heaven Gone" and 1994 "Forget The Light" demos, a cover of BATHORY's "Burnin' Leather", and a demo version of "Rebel Angel" (off 2000's "Deathrace King" CD). 
DANZIG will be heading into the studio in a few weeks to begin recording their new album, tentatively due in late 2003/early 2004 through Spitfire Records. 
Canada's EIDOLON have completed their latest slab of molten metal, "Apostles Of Defiance", due on October 6 through Metal Blade Records. 
Vocalist Jape decided to end his career in TO/DIE/FOR. He told that he had no more motivation to go on with the band. Band wish him good luck in whatever he is going to do and thanks for great times with the band. Now group is looking for a new singer who can fill the huge hole which Jape left.
LAKE OF TEARS are going to start again! According to the official site of the band:
Finland's THROES OF DAWN are set to enter Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki on August 17 for five days to record the drums and bass for their fourth full-length album. According to the band's official web site, "10 new brilliant songs will be recorded in three parts," with guitars and synths scheduled to be tracked between September 30 and October 7, and the vocals and the mix due to be completed between November 5 and November 11. An early 2004 release through Avantgarde/Wounded Love Records is expected. In other news, THROES OF DAWN recently acquired three new members: Juha Ylikoski (guitar, ex-ROTTEN SOUND), Harri Huhtala (bass, ex-CARTILAGE, ex-VOMITURITION), and Jani Martikkala (drums, BLACK DAWN, ex-...AND OCEANS, ex-ENOCHIAN CRESCENT).
New album "Somni Regnum" is ready! It's not known yet, when it will be in stores. In Europe "Somni Regnum" will release Xtreem Music (ex-Repulse), which also piblished last ROSSOMAHAAR's album "Quaerite Lux In Tenebris" for not-CIS states. Also ROSSOMAHAAR released recently their first live album "Live And Die In Moscow" through Sound Age.
HATE ETERNAL bassist/vocalist Jared Anderson has left the band in order to commit himself to rehabilitation for a drug problem.
DIMMU BORGIR will finish their new video this week. Here you can see a cut from interview Silenoz for The MetalList Portal:
Former JUDAS PRIEST frontman Tim "Ripper" Owens has officially joined ICED EARTH. Owens, who left JUDAS PRIEST due to Halford's return, has already finished laying down vocals to the group's new album, "The Glorious Burden", which will be release this fall through SPV/Steamhammer Records.
Britain's SKYCLAD are a last-minute addition to the Hawkfest, a three-day event set to take place August 8-10 near Preston. SKYCLAD will be hitting the stage on Sunday, August 10 at approximately 4:30 p.m. Other bands set to appear at the festival include THE LEVELLERS, HAWKWIND, SPACEHEAD, TRIBE OF CRO, MR QUIMBY'S BEARD, LITMUS and PXR1. In other news, SKYCLAD's successful 2.5-hour headlining gig at the Dong Open Air on July 19 included four songs from the band's upcoming album, "A Semblance of Normality". The group's complete setlist for the Dong show was as follows:
Even though METALLICA's battle with Napster is fading into the past, critics of the band still hang on to it. Just last week, someone started an Internet hoax story — that METALLICA had copyrighted the chords D and F and would sue anyone who used them in a song. Guitarist/singer James Hetfield laughs uncontrollably when told of the story. "That's so awesome," he finally gasps. "I find that extremely funny."
Swedish "gothic metal" act BESEECH have set "Drama" as the title for their fourth full-length album, tentatively due in early 2004 through Napalm Records. BESEECH have spent the past few weeks at Studio Mega recording the follow-up to 2002's "Souls Highway", the group's first effort since the departure of longtime guitarist Klas Bohlin. According to guitarist Robert Spanglund, "some outside persons that visited the studio and heard some songs in the studio think the new material [is] comparable to/[a] combination of bands such as H.I.M., EVANECESCENCE, TYPE O NEGATIVE, MARILYN MANSON and ALANIS MORISETTE." Among the tracks set to appear on the album are the following:
ALCHEMIST taked their new video - for the song "First Contact". The video, from the band's highly-received new album "Austral Alien", was directed by ALCHEMIST drummer Rodney Holder and features stunning scenes incorporating Sci-Fi elements that depict alien abduction.
MAYHEM's classic "Wolf's Lair Abyss" CD will be reissued through Candlelight USA on October 14. The recording continues the label's classic reissue series — adding to earlier reissues by ARCTURUS, FLEURETY and VED BUENS ENDE. MAYHEM will be entering a mobile studio in the mountains of Norway in the fall to record their new album, "Chimera". They will also be accompanied by their technician for this recording, Borge Finstad. The follow-up to 2000's "Grand Declaration Of War" will include such titles as "Rape Humanity With Pride", "Chimera", "Dark Night Of The Soul" and "Deathwhore". An early 2004 release through Season Of Mist Records is expected.
Polish death metallers VADER will issue a new mini-CD, titled "Blood", on September 22 — a month earlier than the originally announced October 20 release date. The seven-song effort will contain two new songs, "We Wait" and "Shape-shifting", which were recorded over a one-week period beginning on July 10 at Red Studio with engineer Piotr Lukaszewski ("Reign Forever World", "Revelations"). Also included on the CD will be a few rare cuts from "Revelations" recording sessions: "As The Fallen Rise" (taken from Japanese version of "Revelations"), "Angel Of Death" (Japanese version of the album and EP released in Poland exclusively), "When Darkness Calls" (Polish EP version), "Son Of Fire" (European digi-pack version), and "Traveler" (Polish digi-pack version). The complete track listing for the EP is as follows:
QUEENSRYCHE's current tour finds them co-headlining with math-metal cult band DREAM THEATER — a smart consolidation of two bands with similar leanings. "Our music styles complement each other really well," QUEENSRYCHE guitarist Michael Wilton told "I know a lot of tours have been suffering, but this one is really kicking ass."
Finnish melodic power metallers STRATOVARIUS have finalized the track listing for their new album, "Elements Part 2", due on October 27 through Nuclear Blast Records. The album, which will once again feature artwork by Derek Riggs, will contain the following songs: