MOURNFUL CONGREGATION is currently in the process of recording a new track for a split 7" record with fellow Australian doom metal band STONE WINGS. This track will be entitled 'Descent Of The Flames', with the STONE WINGS track being entitled 'Ascent Of The Flames'. This is somewhat of a concept 7" with both sets of lyrics being penned by Chuck Keller (ORDER FROM CHAOS, VULPECULA, ARES KINGDOM). With corresponding artwork and musical parallels, this will truly be a unique and one-of-a-kind jewel in the doom metal annals. It is unsure as to which label it will be released through at this stage, but expect its release late in 2006. Damon from MOURNFUL CONGREGATION has recently lent his doomed vocals to a FALLEN hymn. Of course this is the funeral doom band driven by FUNERAL drummer Anders Eek. The track is inextricably extreme and the results of this collaboration have proven to be truly doomed. What's more is that the lyrics to this hymn were penned by the late Einar Fredriksen of FUNERAL, making this a very meaningful track indeed. More news as to how it shall be released is soon to come. There is also talk of a four-way split 12" LP in the works with three other extreme doom metal bands from across the globe including LOSS. The artwork for this release will be handled by Away of Voivod. These collaborations will serve as the perfect predescessor to MOURNFUL CONGREGATION's next album which is set for a 2007 release.
Death metal legends Hate Eternal will release their first ever DVD The Perilous Fight on October 16th 2006. The DVD features artwork from Paul Romano (Mastodon, Trivium) that you can check out here at and also includes a blistering live set filmed at The Garage in London on 4th June 2006, with a live audio mix by Hate Eternal frontman Erik Rutan.
"The Perilous Fight" delves deep into the life of one of death metal s most influential bands, with Erik Rutan, Randy Piro and Reno Killerich sharing their thoughts on Hate Eternal so far in an exclusive 20 minute interview filmed immediately following the June 2006 London show.
Exhibiting sheer metal mastery, this DVD is overloaded with bonus features including a guided tour of Mana Studios in Florida by Rutan himself and three promotional videos from the band, including the exclusive unreleased "The Victorious Reign" directed by Shane Drake (Panic! At The Disco, Trivium, Hawthorne Heights).
Fans of Hate Eternal should be sure to grab their own copy of this unstoppable metal chaos when it is released on October 16th. The full tracklisting of The Perilous Fight will run as follows:
Main Feature:
01. Two Demons 02. Servants Of The Gods 03. The Victorious Reign 04. Dogma Condemned 05. I, Monarch 06. Behold Judas 07. The Obscure Terror 08. To Know Our Enemies 09. Powers That Be 10. By His Own Decree 11. Sons Of Darkness 12. King Of All Kings
Promo Videos:
01. The Powers That Be 02. I, Monarch 03. The Victorious Reign
Bonus Features:
Hate Eternal interview Behind the Scenes at Mana Studios
Former SAVATAGE/current JON OLIVA'S PAIN frontman Jon Oliva and SINNER/ex-PRIMAL FEAR drummer Klaus Sperling make guest appearances on the sophomore album from the South German melodic metal outfit SAIDIAN, entitled "Phoenix". Due on September 29 via Metal Heaven, the disc was once again produced by former SANVOISEN singer Vagelis Maranis at Maranis Studios in Backnang (near Stuttgart), Germany. Sperling reportedly plays drums on the entire album, while Oliva joined the group to sing a verse in the song "Crown of Creation".
TO-MERA, the new U.K.-based dark progressive metal band formed by former WITHOUT FACE vocalist Julie Kiss (photo) and bassist Lee Barrett (ex-EXTREME NOISE TERROR, DISGUST, MUSSOLINI HEADKICK), just shot a video for the song "Blood". The clip is currently being edited and should be ready in about 10 days. Check out pictures from the video shoot at this location.
TO-MERA's debut album, "Transcendental", is scheduled for release in Europe on September 11 via Candlelight Records. A U.S. release date has yet to be announced. Check out the album cover artwork at this location. Audio samples are available at this location. The track comes off the group's debut album, "Transcendental", due in
LOUDNESS guitarist Akira Takasaki will release his new solo album, "Nenriki", on September 20 via Tricycle Entertainment. The track listing for the effort is as follows:
01. Surf Trip 02. Mars 03. I Want To Take You Higher 04. Neighborhood 05. Mindphase 06. Chicago Drive 07. The Sun Goes Down 08. No One To Depend On 09. Black Gold 10. Paradise Jungle 11. Echoes 12. Funk It
The first of September will be a truly special day for all fans of Symphonic Progressive Metal with a fantasy touch: The masters themselves, BLIND GUARDIAN, will release their sophomore masterpiece "A Twist In The Myth"! Of course we have a soft spot for all those of you who can΄t stand weeks of waiting. Just click ' and join our exclusive pre-listening! You can check out various tracks - more tracks will be added the closer the release date gets, so make sure you return soon!
As previously reported, ex-MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman's latest solo album, Loudspeaker, features guest appearances by guitarists Steve Vai and John Petrucci (DREAM THEATER), bassist Billy Sheehan, keyboardist Jens Johansson (STRATOVARIUS) and drummer Jeremy Colson (CIRCUS DIABLO, THE BREED). It has been confirmed for a European release on September 22nd via Mascot Records. The track list is as follows: 'Elixir' (featuring Billy Sheehan), 'Street Demon', 'Black Orchid' (featuring John Petrucci), 'Paradise Express' (featuring Billy Sheehan), 'Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana' (featuring Jeremy Colson), 'Glycerine Flesh (featuring Jens Johansson), 'Stigmata Addiction' (featuring Jeremy Colson), 'Viper' (featuring Steve Vai), 'Static Rain', 'Colores Mi Vida', 'Devil Take Tomorrow' (featuring Jeremy Colson).
Dutch female-fronted symphonic metal band EPICA is currently working on material for its third full-length album. "We have about 13 songs which are growing every day," states vocalist Simone Simons. "Soon we will be able to play new songs live. Looking forward to it!"
Finnish band EMBRAZE has a posted a new MP3 file containing audio samples of tracks that will appear on its fourth album, "The Last Embrace", due on August 16. Download it ' .
According to a posting on EMBRAZE's web site, the new material "sounds heavier, but also more melodic than ever before in EMBRAZE history!"
"The Last Embrace" tentative track listing: 01. Carvings on the Gallowstree 02. Branded 03. Racing Against Time 04. Dead Roses 05. Liquid Fire 06. Memory Trace of our Time 07. The One 08. Sleeping Ground 09. Sun Goes Down 10. No Solace
EMBRAZE features in its ranks FOR MY PAIN… guitarist Lauri Tuohimaa. The band will perform at the Jalometalli festival in Oulu, Finland on August 19.
ENTOMBED recently issued an EP, entitled "When in Sodom", via Threeman Recordings. A full-length CD, "Serpent Saints", will follow on September 18.
ENTOMBED's new album was recorded at Soundland studio in Upplands Väsby, Sweden. The CD will be the group's first without the contributions of guitarist Uffe Cederlund, who left the band in September 2005.
German power metallers GAMMA RAY have set "Hell Yeah! The Awesome Foursome (And The Finnish Keyboarder Who Didn't Want To Wear His Donald Duck Costume) Live in Montreal" as the title of their upcoming DVD. The set will feature a ulti-camera recording of the band's May 6, 2006 show at Medley in Montreal, Quebec as well as lots of bonus features, such as a road movie, a documentary covering the group's history, behind-the-scenes footage, and video clips etc. "Canada is a good place to film a show," the band's frontman, Kai Hansen, previously said about the shoot. "But we are also bringing a cameraman along for the entire tour to capture all of the backstage and pre-show aspects of the band. We are bringing it back to rock 'n' roll basics."
This will be the first-ever GAMMA RAY video-documentary featuring the current lineup of the band. "The current lineup has been together for eight years," Hansen stated. "It's about time we get a filmed documentary of who the band is."
POISONBLACK's video for its new single, "Rush", has been posted online ' . Also available at YouTube.com is a video clip of POISONBLACK mainman Ville Laihiala (vocals, guitar, formerly of SENTENCED) performing the band's song "Pain Becomes Me" acoustically. Check it out at this location.
"Rush" and Pain Becomes Me come off POISONBLACK's long-awaited second album, "Lust Stained Despair", due in Europe on August 28 via Century Media Records. The follow-up to 2003's "Escapextacy" was recorded in part at Tonebox studio in Oulu, Finland and was mixed and mastered at Antfarm studios in Aarhus, Denmark.
"Lust Stained Despair" track listing: 01. Nothing Else Remains 02. Hollow Be My Name 03. The Darkest Lie 04. Rush 05. Nail 06. Raivotar 07. Soul In Flames 08. Pain Becomes Me 09. Never Enough 10. Love Controlled Despair 11. The Living Dead
Switzerland's SAMAEL has completed the pre-production phase for its new album, tentatively due before the end of the year. The band spent a week going over new songs with acclaimed producer Waldemar Sorychta (LACUNA COIL, TIAMAT, GRIP INC., MOONSPELL).
SAMAEL is currently in studio recording bass and guitars; sessions started in July and will continue throughout August.
MTM Music has set a September 22 release date for TNT's "Live in Madrid" DVD. The set, which was filmed on April 1, 2006 in Madrid, Spain, will be accompanied by an 82-minute audio CD plus booklet liner notes from ex-TNT vocalist Tony Harnell about his work with the group as well as an additional tour documentary by Darren Paltrowitz.
Commented Harnell: "This DVD is dedicated to TNT fans around the world who have not had a chance to see the band live. I gave everything I had to give — it was an emotional night for me as I said goodbye to this era of my life."
"Live in Madrid" track listing: 01. Invisible Noise 02. As Far As The Eye Can See 03. Downhill Racer 04. A Fix 05. She Needs Me 06. Give Me A Sign 07. Guitar Solo 08. Caught Between The Tigers 09. Listen To Your Heart 10. Black Butterfly 11. Seven Seas 12. Forever Shine On 13. Fantasia Espanola 14. My Religion 15. 10,000 Lovers (In One) 16. Intuition
Swedish melodic metallers NOSTRADAMEUS have posted the following message on their official web site:
"This album is, how we would see it, a development from 'Hellbound' — more METAL. But I'm sure that you guys who like the earlier stuff will find things that please you as well, as long as you like metal.
"As far as we heard, the album will be released by the end of this year or early next year. And our goal is to make as many gigs and tours as possible in the future."
"Pathway" track listing (in no particular order):
01. Wall of Anger 02. No Trace of Madness 03. Not Only Women Bleed 04. MDCC Pt. 1 05. MDCC Pt. 2 06. The Untouchebles 07. Death by My Side 08. Until the End 09. Demon Voices 10. Welcome to Living 11. P.I.R
The cover artwork for AMON AMARTH's new album, entitled "With Oden On Our Side", has been posted online at this location. The Swedish viking death metal metallers' sixth full-length album will be released in Europe on September 25 (September 22 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland) via Metal Blade Records. The CD was recorded at Fascination Street studios in Örebro, Sweden with producer Jens Bogren.
"With Oden On Our Side" track listing: 01. Valhall Awaits Me 02. Runes to My Memory 03. Asator 04. Hermod's Ride to Hel (Lokes Treachery Part 1) 05. Gods of War Arise 06. With Oden On Our Side 07. Cry of the Black Birds 08. Under the Northern Star 09. Prediction of Warfare
There will be a limited digipack version containing a bonus disc featuring the following track listing: 01. Where Silent Gods Stand Guard (live at Wacken 2004) 02. Death in Fire (live at Wacken 2004) 03. With Oden on Our Side (demo version) 04. Hermod's Ride to Hel - Lokes Treachery Part 1 (demo version) 05. Once Sent from the Golden Hall (Sunlight Studio recording 1997) 06. Return of the Gods (Sunlight Studio recording 1997 – previously unreleased song)
Guitarist Stefania Ponzilacqua of the Italian metallers ETERNAL TRAGEDY has announced that the group's next album — to be produced by Tim Aymar (CONTROL DENIED) and engineered by Curran Murphy (ex-ANNIHILATOR) — will feature guest appearances by Kelly Conlon (ex-DEATH, MONSTROSITY) on bass and Robert Falzano (ex-ANNIHILATOR) on drums. The CD will contain "50 minutes of technical death metal," according to a press release.
In other news, Ponzilacqua is currently seeking a death metal singer, a bass player, a drummer and another guitarist for touring purposes. More information is available by writing to metalentity@yahoo.com.
The cover artwork for MUSHROOMHEAD's new album, "Savior Sorrow", has been posted online at this location. Due on September 19 via Megaforce Records, the CD was produced in April 2006 by drummer Steve "Skinny" Felton and MUSHROOMHEAD at Cleveland's Filthy Hands Studios.
Commented Felton: "It's a new chapter in MUSHROOMHEAD's evolution. There are sounds on this album that sound so brutal and huge. We focused on delivering some vicious hardcore mixed with heavy melodic hooks. Lyrically, it definitely reflects where the world is at this moment in time."
"Savior Sorrow" track listing: 01. 1200 02. Simple Survival 03. Stoned 04. Save Us 05. Tattoo 06. The Doubt 07. Burn 08. Pretending 09. The Need 10. Cut Me 11. The Fallen 12. Embrace The Ending
MOURNFUL CONGREGATION is currently in the process of recording a new track for a split 7" record with fellow Australian doom metal band STONE WINGS. This track will be entitled 'Descent Of The Flames', with the STONE WINGS track being entitled 'Ascent Of The Flames'.
Death metal legends Hate Eternal will release their first ever DVD The Perilous Fight on October 16th 2006. The DVD features artwork from Paul Romano (Mastodon, Trivium) that you can check out here at 
Former SAVATAGE/current JON OLIVA'S PAIN frontman Jon Oliva and SINNER/ex-PRIMAL FEAR drummer Klaus Sperling make guest appearances on the sophomore album from the South German melodic metal outfit SAIDIAN, entitled "Phoenix". Due on September 29 via Metal Heaven, the disc was once again produced by former SANVOISEN singer Vagelis Maranis at Maranis Studios in Backnang (near Stuttgart), Germany. Sperling reportedly plays drums on the entire album, while Oliva joined the group to sing a verse in the song "Crown of Creation".
TO-MERA, the new U.K.-based dark progressive metal band formed by former WITHOUT FACE vocalist Julie Kiss (photo) and bassist Lee Barrett (ex-EXTREME NOISE TERROR, DISGUST, MUSSOLINI HEADKICK), just shot a video for the song "Blood". The clip is currently being edited and should be ready in about 10 days. Check out pictures from the video shoot at this location.
The first of September will be a truly special day for all fans of Symphonic Progressive Metal with a fantasy touch: The masters themselves, BLIND GUARDIAN, will release their sophomore masterpiece "A Twist In The Myth"! Of course we have a soft spot for all those of you who can΄t stand weeks of waiting. Just click ' and join our exclusive pre-listening! You can check out various tracks - more tracks will be added the closer the release date gets, so make sure you return soon!
Dutch female-fronted symphonic metal band EPICA is currently working on material for its third full-length album. "We have about 13 songs which are growing every day," states vocalist Simone Simons. "Soon we will be able to play new songs live. Looking forward to it!"
"The Last Embrace" tentative track listing:
ENTOMBED recently issued an EP, entitled "When in Sodom", via Threeman Recordings. A full-length CD, "Serpent Saints", will follow on September 18.
German power metallers GAMMA RAY have set "Hell Yeah! The Awesome Foursome (And The Finnish Keyboarder Who Didn't Want To Wear His Donald Duck Costume) Live in Montreal" as the title of their upcoming DVD. The set will feature a ulti-camera recording of the band's May 6, 2006 show at Medley in Montreal, Quebec as well as lots of bonus features, such as a road movie, a documentary covering the group's history, behind-the-scenes footage, and video clips etc. "Canada is a good place to film a show," the band's frontman, Kai Hansen, previously said about the shoot. "But we are also bringing a cameraman along for the entire tour to capture all of the backstage and pre-show aspects of the band. We are bringing it back to rock 'n' roll basics."
"Lust Stained Despair" track listing:
"Live in Madrid" track listing:
Swedish melodic metallers NOSTRADAMEUS have posted the following message on their official web site:
"With Oden On Our Side" track listing:
Guitarist Stefania Ponzilacqua of the Italian metallers ETERNAL TRAGEDY has announced that the group's next album — to be produced by Tim Aymar (CONTROL DENIED) and engineered by Curran Murphy (ex-ANNIHILATOR) — will feature guest appearances by Kelly Conlon (ex-DEATH, MONSTROSITY) on bass and Robert Falzano (ex-ANNIHILATOR) on drums. The CD will contain "50 minutes of technical death metal," according to a press release.
"Savior Sorrow" track listing: